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Glite Dictionary
common ivy

common ivy

3.4
A climbing evergreen plant with lobed leaves and small black berries
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən ˈaɪvi/
translation icon : hiedra común
  • Birds are attracted to common ivy because of its dense foliage and small, black fruits.

Examples

  • The common ivy grows well in shady areas.

  • Common ivy can cover walls and fences, giving gardens a lush, green appearance year-round.

  • Gardeners often plant common ivy to provide ground cover and prevent soil erosion.

  • Many gardeners love the common ivy for its lush appearance.

  • In the garden, the common ivy climbed over the trellis, creating a beautiful green wall.

  • Many homeowners enjoy the sight of common ivy adorning their fences and walls during the summer months.

  • The gardener decided to plant common ivy as it requires little maintenance and thrives in shaded areas.

Synonyms

ivy
vscommon ivy
43 1.0

A climbing plant with green leaves and small dark berries that grows on walls

is a specific native species rather than a general term for similar plants
English ivy
vscommon ivy
1 3.9

A climbing evergreen vine with lobed green leaves and small black berries often grown in gardens

is the wild native species itself rather than a cultivated garden form
Hedera helix
vscommon ivy
  • Specialized
8.0

A climbing evergreen plant with shiny dark green leaves that often covers walls and ground

is the common name used in everyday speech for that species
Hedera
vscommon ivy
  • Specialized
9.1

A climbing plant like English ivy that covers walls and the ground

is a single species within that broader plant group

Surface Forms

common ivy singular
common ivies plural

Morphology

common + ivy

The phrase denotes an ivy that is 'common' (ordinary or widespread), so a B1 learner who knows 'common' and 'ivy' can infer it refers to a commonplace/widespread ivy species. The meaning follows a regular adjective + noun composition and is cross-linguistically transparent, so no idiomatic knowledge is required.

Etymology

Common ivy is named for being the ivy people see everywhere. The word common simply means 'the usual' or 'found a lot', and the picture of the same ivy climbing walls and fences helps you remember it is the familiar, widespread climbing plant.