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Glite Dictionary
alpine bearberry

alpine bearberry

9.8
A low shrub that grows close to the ground in mountains and has red autumn leaves and dark berries
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : uva de oso alpina
  • The alpine bearberry turns brilliant red in autumn, adding color to mountain slopes.

Examples

  • Birds often feed on the berries produced by the alpine bearberry.

  • Hikers spotted several alpine bearberries growing along the rocky trail.

  • The alpine bearberry is a beautiful plant.

  • In autumn, the alpine bearberry turns bright red.

  • The alpine bearberry turns brilliant red in autumn, adding color to mountain slopes.

  • Hikers spotted several alpine bearberries growing along the rocky trail.

  • Birds often feed on the berries produced by the alpine bearberry.

Synonyms

Arctostaphylos alpina
vsalpine bearberry
  • Specialized
9.9

A small low shrub that grows in cold mountain areas and makes dark berries

is the common English name used for the same shrub
black bearberry
vsalpine bearberry
  • UK
9.9

A low creeping shrub with black berries that turns red in autumn

emphasizes alpine habitat rather than berry color

Surface Forms

alpine bearberry singular
alpine bearberries plural

Morphology

alpine + bearberry

This is a straightforward adjectival modification: 'alpine' (of high mountain regions) simply specifies the type or habitat of 'bearberry' (a shrub). The meaning is fully compositional and follows a common cross-linguistic pattern (ADJ + NOUN), so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Alpine bearberry gets its name from alpine ('mountain') and bearberry (a plant whose berries were often 'eaten by bears'). Because it is a small, low shrub that grows on mountain slopes and makes bright berries, the name gives a simple picture of the plant's look and home.