brittle fern
- noun
- /ˈbrɪtəl fɜrn/
- UK
:
helecho frágil
- I picked a frond of brittle fern, but the stem snapped easily in my hand.
Examples
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The shaded hillsides were covered with brittle fern thriving in the cool, damp soil.
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The brittle fern thrives in moist, shaded areas.
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Botanists identified the plant as a brittle fern due to its distinctive thin leaves and fragile stalks.
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Many gardeners appreciate the brittle fern for its delicate appearance.
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The lowland brittle fern thrives in damp, shaded areas of the forest.
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Carefully, she placed the brittle fern in a pot to protect its delicate fronds.
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In the garden, the brittle fern swayed gently in the breeze, showcasing its fine leaves.
Synonyms
A delicate fern with thin divided leaves and easily broken stems
A small delicate fern with thin divided leaves and brittle stems
A delicate plant with thin divided leaves and easily broken stems that grows in damp woods
How Hardy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a simple adjective + noun composition: 'brittle' (liable to break) modifies 'fern' (a plant), so the meaning 'a fern that is fragile or easily broken' is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows a common and transparent noun-modifier pattern in English (and many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.
Etymology
Brittle fern comes from the plant's thin leaves and stems that snap or break very easily. The word brittle means 'fragile', so the name tells you this fern has easily broken parts and is a delicate plant.
