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Glite Dictionary
Ilex paraguariensis

Ilex paraguariensis

9.9
A South American plant whose leaves are dried to make the drink mate
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ilex paraguariensis
  • The leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are used to brew mate.

Examples

  • The leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are traditionally dried and steeped to make mate.

  • Cultivation of Ilex paraguariensis is an important industry in several South American countries.

  • Researchers are studying the health benefits of compounds found in Ilex paraguariensis.

  • In Argentina, Ilex paraguariensis is a popular drink.

  • The leaves of Ilex paraguariensis are traditionally dried and steeped to make mate.

  • Cultivation of Ilex paraguariensis is an important industry in several South American countries.

  • Researchers are studying the health benefits of compounds found in Ilex paraguariensis.

Synonyms

mate
vsIlex paraguariensis
7 8.1

A South American drink made from dried yerba mate leaves

is the botanical species name rather than the common drink or plant term
Paraguay tea
vsIlex paraguariensis
8.8

A South American plant with dried leaves used to make mate, a hot caffeinated drink

is the Latin species name used by scientists for that same plant

Surface Forms

Ilex paraguariensis singular
Ilex paraguariensises plural

Morphology

Ilex + paraguariensis

This is a scientific binomial: 'Ilex' names the holly genus and 'paraguariensis' is a Latin adjectival epithet meaning 'from Paraguay'. If a learner knows both constituents (including that the second element indicates origin), the meaning — a species of holly from Paraguay used for mate — is directly compositional rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Ilex paraguariensis is a Latin name made of two parts: Ilex meaning 'holly' and paraguariensis meaning 'from Paraguay'. That's why the name describes the holly plant from South America whose leaves are dried and steeped to make the drink 'mate'.