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Glite Dictionary
bird vetch

bird vetch

8.4
A climbing plant with dense groups of purple-blue flowers often found in fields and gardens
  • noun
translation icon : guisante de los pájaros
  • The field was covered in bird vetch, creating a patchwork of purple flowers.

Examples

  • Pollinators are attracted to the clusters of bird vetch in early summer.

  • Gardeners often use bird vetch as ground cover due to its vigorous growth.

  • The bird vetch blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Many gardeners love the bird vetch for its vibrant colors.

  • In the garden, the rapidly spreading bird vetch added a beautiful touch with its purple flowers.

  • The bird vetch entwined itself around the fence, showcasing vibrant blossoms all summer long.

  • Pollinators flocked to the clusters of bird vetch that painted the field in shades of blue and purple.

Synonyms

Vicia cracca
vsbird vetch
  • Specialized
9.6

A common climbing plant that lives many years and has purple flower clusters

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific label
tufted vetch
vsbird vetch
9.9

A climbing plant with tight clusters of blue-purple flowers

is the formal scientific label used in botanical contexts

Surface Forms

bird vetch singular
bird vetches plural

Morphology

bird + vetch

This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'bird' modifies 'vetch' to label a particular kind of vetch; the overall meaning is simply 'a type of vetch'. A B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings would therefore understand it refers to a species of climbing vetch, so the composition is transparent.

Etymology

Bird vetch may come from the sight of birds eating its small seeds or sitting in its tangled stems, so people joined bird with the plant name vetch to show that link. The picture of birds on the plant helps explain why the name means 'a climbing plant with purple flowers' today.