Monterey cypress
- noun
- /ˈmɒntəreɪ ˈsaɪprəs/
- US
:
ciprés de Monterey
- The Monterey cypress is often used as an ornamental tree in gardens along the California coast.
Examples
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In the secluded park, a grove of Monterey cypress provides a beautiful backdrop for picnics.
-
In fact, Point Lobos is home to one of the only two native groves of Monterey Cypress in the world.
Academic text (2006) -
Visitors love to take photos of the majestic Monterey cypress trees that line the coastline.
Synonyms
15
5.3
A tall evergreen tree with dark, flat leaves and small round cones
3
3.5
A tall evergreen tree with dark, flat leaves and small round cones
A tall cypress tree from Monterey Bay, California often planted in parks to block wind and look nice
A group of evergreen trees like cypress that keep their leaves all year
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines the place name 'Monterey' with the noun 'cypress', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes the cypress tree associated with Monterey (i.e., a species or local variety). This is a fully compositional, conventional species/place-name pattern found across languages, making the meaning transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Monterey cypress gets its name from the place it grows and the kind of tree: Monterey, the area in California, and the evergreen cypress. These tall trees were often planted to block strong ocean winds, so the name means a 'tall evergreen tree from the Monterey Bay area'.