Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Italian ryegrass

Italian ryegrass

6.0
A fast-growing grass from Europe grown for hay, lawns, and to make soil better
  • noun
  • /ɪˈtæljən raɪˌɡræs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ryegrass italiano
  • The farmer chose Italian ryegrass for green manure to improve the soil's fertility.

Examples

  • Many lawns in the region are seeded with Italian ryegrass due to its lush green appearance.

  • Italian ryegrass is often planted in pastures for its high yield and quick growth.

  • Farmers often plant Italian ryegrass for its fast growth.

  • The Italian ryegrass in my garden is thriving this spring.

  • Italian ryegrass is often planted in pastures for its high yield and quick growth.

  • Many lawns in the region are seeded with Italian ryegrass due to its lush green appearance.

  • The farmer chose Italian ryegrass for green manure to improve the soil's fertility.

Synonyms

rye grass
vsItalian ryegrass
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A grass often grown for lawns or animal feed

is one specific species mainly cultivated for hay and green manure
ryegrass
vsItalian ryegrass
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A grass people plant for animals to eat or for lawns

is narrower, meaning a single species used especially for turf and manure
Lolium multiflorum
vsItalian ryegrass
  • Specialized
8.2

A grass that grows quickly and is used for hay, lawns, and to improve soil

is the common agricultural name used for hay and turf
Italian rye
vsItalian ryegrass
6.5

A fast-growing grass grown for hay, lawns, and to improve soil

is the botanical species label rather than this name form

Surface Forms

Italian ryegrass singular
Italian ryegrasses plural

Morphology

Italian + ryegrass

The meaning 'a type/variety of ryegrass associated with Italy' is directly derivable from combining 'Italian' (from Italy) with 'ryegrass' (a cultivated grass). This origin + noun naming pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Italian ryegrass mixes the parts Italian meaning 'from Italy' and rye plus grass meaning a 'grass' that looks 'like rye'. That's why today Italian ryegrass refers to a fast-growing grass farmers plant for 'hay', 'lawns', and to make the soil better.