caper family
- noun
- /ˈkeɪpər ˈfæmɪli/
- Specialized
- The Mediterranean caper bush is a well-known member of the caper family.
Examples
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Many members of the caper family are used in cooking.
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The caper family includes a variety of shrubs and small trees found in warm climates.
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Botanists recently reclassified certain species within the caper family based on genetic evidence.
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The caper family includes various flowering plants.
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Botanists recently reclassified certain species within the caper family based on genetic evidence.
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The caper family includes a variety of shrubs and small trees found in warm climates.
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The Mediterranean caper bush is a well-known member of the caper family.
Synonyms
A group of flowering plants including shrubs, small trees, and herbs in warm regions
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'caper' (the plant/edible bud) + 'family' (a grouping of related species) yields the taxonomic family that includes capers. The X + family pattern for biological groups is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer this meaning.
Etymology
Caper family is named after the caper plant, whose small flower buds are picked and often preserved in salt as a tasty, salty food. The word family here means a 'group of related plants', so the phrase refers to the group of plants related to the caper bush.