Cedrus libani
- noun
- /ˈsiːdrəs lɪˈbɑːni/
- Specialized
:
cedro del Líbano
- Conservation efforts focus on protecting the endangered Cedrus libani populations in the wild.
Examples
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The majestic Cedrus libani towers over the landscape.
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Many national emblems in the Middle East feature the Cedrus libani.
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The ancient temples were built with wood from the Cedrus libani.
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Many Cedrus libani trees can be found in Lebanon.
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The ancient temples were built with wood from the Cedrus libani.
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Conservation efforts focus on protecting the endangered Cedrus libani populations in the wild.
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Many national emblems in the Middle East feature the Cedrus libani.
Synonyms
15
3.2
A large green tree that keeps its leaves all year and has pleasant-smelling wood
1
2.8
A large evergreen tree with strong, fragrant wood used for furniture
A large tree from Lebanon that grows very tall and lives a long time
A tall evergreen tree of the Cedrus group that grows on high mountains like the Himalayas or Mediterranean
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cedrus + libani
The element 'Cedrus' clearly indicates a cedar tree genus, so a learner who knows that part can infer the referent is a kind of cedar; however 'libani' is a Latin specific epithet (genitive of Lebanon) not part of everyday English vocabulary and requires knowledge of scientific naming or Latin morphology to get the full meaning 'of Lebanon'. Because the basic category (a cedar) is recoverable but the precise locational/species sense is not predictably derivable by a B1 learner, the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Cedrus libani comes from old words: Cedrus means 'cedar' and libani means 'Lebanon'. It is the name of the famous tall cedar trees that grow on the mountains of 'Lebanon' and are known for their strong, fragrant wood and long life, so the name points to this particular tree.