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Glite Dictionary
common sorrel

common sorrel

6.1
A leafy herb with sour pointed leaves used in salads and sauces
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən ˈsɔːrəl/
translation icon : aceder común
  • The fresh leaves of common sorrel give a tangy flavor to summer salads.

Examples

  • Chefs often incorporate common sorrel into creamy sauces for fish dishes.

  • We grew common sorrel in our garden to add zest to our homemade soups.

  • I love adding common sorrel to my salads.

  • The chef used common sorrel in the sauce.

  • The fresh leaves of common sorrel give a tangy flavor to summer salads.

  • Chefs often incorporate common sorrel into creamy sauces for fish dishes.

  • We grew common sorrel in our garden to add zest to our homemade soups.

Synonyms

sorrel
vscommon sorrel
2 7.0

A plant with sour green leaves used in salads or cooking

is the specific herb with arrowhead sour leaves often used in sauces
Rumex acetosa
vscommon sorrel
  • Specialized
9.9

A leafy plant with large sour leaves eaten raw in salads

is the general herb described by arrowhead leaf shape and sauce use
garden sorrel
vscommon sorrel
5.6

A plant with sour leaves used in salads and cooking

is used especially for salads and sauces rather than broad cooking
sour dock
vscommon sorrel
8.6

A plant with large sour leaves used in salads and spring greens

is used across seasons in salads and for adding to sauces

Surface Forms

common sorrel singular
common sorrels plural

Morphology

common + sorrel

The phrase is fully compositional: 'common' (typical/frequently occurring) simply modifies 'sorrel' (an edible sour-leaved herb), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the ordinary/typical sorrel plant used in salads. This adjective+noun pattern is straightforward and non-idiomatic, making the meaning immediately derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Common sorrel gets its name from the strong 'sour' taste of its leaves: the word sorrel comes from an old word for 'sour'. So common sorrel today is the leafy herb people add to salads and sauces to give a sour taste.