bitter hickory
- noun
- US
:
nogal amargo
- Gazing at the bitter hickory, I noticed its leaves had either 7 or 9 leaflets, typical of the species.
Examples
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Although they look appealing, the nuts of the bitter hickory are not suitable for eating due to their taste.
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The wood of the bitter hickory is prized for its strength and durability.
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We found a large bitter hickory tree at the edge of the old forest.
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The bitter hickory tree can grow up to 100 feet tall.
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Many animals avoid the bitter hickory nuts due to their taste.
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The nuts of the bitter hickory are highly bitter and not recommended for human consumption.
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We spotted a towering bitter hickory in the park, distinguished by its unique leaf arrangement.
Synonyms
A North American tree with leaves of seven or nine leaflets and thin-shelled, very bitter nuts
A hickory tree that makes bitter thin-shelled nuts and the nut itself
A hickory tree from eastern North America with leaves made of 7 or 9 small parts and thin, bitter nuts
A tree from the eastern United States with 7 or 9 leaflets and thin, very bitter nuts
A tree in the eastern United States with leaves of seven or nine small parts and thin, very bitter nuts
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a direct adjective + noun combination: 'bitter' (having an unpleasant taste) modifying 'hickory' (a type of tree). A B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer it refers to a kind/species of hickory characterized by bitterness (e.g., bitter nuts), and this compositional pattern is common and predictable across languages.
Etymology
Bitter hickory gets its name from the tree's very bitter nuts. The word bitter points to the bad taste of the nuts and hickory shows the kind of tree, so the name helps you remember that the nuts are 'not suitable for eating'.
