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Glite Dictionary
Mexican hat

Mexican hat

7.5
A tall garden flower with a brown cone and drooping yellow or red-brown petals
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛksɪkən hæt/
  • US
translation icon : sombrero mexicano
  • Gardeners like to plant Mexican hat for its unique shape and drought resistance.

Examples

  • The Mexican hat attracts butterflies and bees throughout the summer.

  • A field of Mexican hats added vibrant colors to the prairie landscape.

  • Look at that Mexican hat!

  • The Mexican hat blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • A field of Mexican hats brightens the prairie with its vibrant colors.

  • Gardeners appreciate the Mexican hat for its distinctive shape and ability to thrive in dry conditions.

  • The Mexican hat is known for attracting butterflies and bees during the summertime.

Synonyms

coneflower
vsMexican hat
  • US
1 7.1

A North American wildflower with a cone-shaped center and long petals around it

is a narrower name for one species rather than the broader group
Ratibida columnifera
vsMexican hat
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall North American wildflower with a central cone and drooping yellow or red petals

is the common name used in everyday language rather than the scientific name

Surface Forms

Mexican hat singular
Mexican hats plural

Morphology

Mexican + hat

The meaning is directly built from 'Mexican' + 'hat' — i.e., a hat associated with Mexico or something that looks like a Mexican hat. The flower name is motivated by visual resemblance, a straightforward descriptive compound common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the two words can infer this referent.

Etymology

Mexican hat comes from the flower's shape: it looks like a traditional Mexican hat, with a tall, narrow center and a wide, drooping 'rim' of petals. So the name simply describes the hat-like shape of the flower and is used for the plant.