Prunus cerasifera

8.8

A small tree that makes red or yellow fruit called cherry plum

noun

Specialized

: Prunus cerasifera

Many farmers cultivate Prunus cerasifera for its delicious fruit.

Examples

The garden was lined with blooming Prunus cerasifera trees in early spring.
As an ornamental tree, Prunus cerasifera adds vibrant color to urban landscapes.
The Prunus cerasifera tree produces delicious fruits.
Many gardeners love to plant Prunus cerasifera for its beauty.
Many farmers cultivate Prunus cerasifera for its delicious fruit.
The garden was lined with blooming Prunus cerasifera trees in early spring.
As an ornamental tree, Prunus cerasifera adds vibrant color to urban landscapes.

Synonyms

cherry plum

vsPrunus cerasifera

4.8

A small Asian tree that makes small round fruit like a cherry or plum

is the scientific species name rather than the everyday name

myrobalan plum

vsPrunus cerasifera

9.9

A small Asian tree that makes red or yellow plums you can eat

focuses on species identity rather than garden use or ornament

myrobalan

vsPrunus cerasifera

9.9

A small Asian tree with red or yellow fruit used for food and medicine

emphasizes species identity rather than traditional medicinal or culinary use

Surface Forms

Prunus cerasifera singular

Prunus cerasiferas plural

Morphology

Prunus + cerasifera

This is a botanical Latin binomial: 'Prunus' (a fruit-bearing genus) gives a general class but the species epithet 'cerasifera' is a Latin form not known to a B1 learner (and marked '[Word not found]'). Because the specific meaning 'cherry plum' depends on knowledge of the Latin epithet rather than transparent English morphemes, the overall sense cannot be derived from the given constituents.

Etymology

Prunus cerasifera comes from old Latin words: Prunus meaning 'plum' and cerasifera meaning 'cherry-bearing'. So the name paints the picture of a tree that bears small, cherry-like plums, which is why it is used for the cherry plum tree.