aquatic fern
- noun
- /əˈkwætɪk fɜrn/
:
helecho acuático
- The aquatic fern floated gracefully on the surface of the pond.
Examples
-
Pryer has been able to meet both requirements in her studies of the role of heterochrony in the evolution of a family of aquatic ferns, the Marsileaceae.
Academic text (1996) -
The aquatic fern provides habitat for small fish and insects in the river.
-
In the wetlands, you can commonly spot an aquatic fern thriving in the marshy soil.
Synonyms
A plant that grows in water or very wet places
How Aquatic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a fern that grows in water or very wet places' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'aquatic' (living in or relating to water) with 'fern' (a type of plant). This adjective+noun compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Aquatic fern is a name that paints a simple picture: aquatic means 'in or near water' and fern is a leafy plant, so imagine a fern living on the water or in very wet ground. That's why it means 'a fern that grows in water or very wet places'.