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Glite Dictionary
common tobacco

common tobacco

3.3
A tall South American plant grown for its large leaves used to make cigarettes and cigars
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən təˈbækoʊ/
translation icon : tabaco común
  • The broad leaves of common tobacco are harvested, cured, and later used in various tobacco products.

Examples

  • Common tobacco is grown extensively in many countries for the production of cigarettes and cigars.

  • Farmers prepared the soil to plant a new crop of common tobacco in the spring.

  • Farmers grow common tobacco in many regions of South America.

  • The leaves of common tobacco are harvested in the fall.

  • Common tobacco is grown extensively in many countries for the production of cigarettes and cigars.

  • The broad leaves of common tobacco are harvested, cured, and later used in various tobacco products.

  • Farmers prepare the soil to plant a new crop of common tobacco in the spring.

Synonyms

tobacco
vscommon tobacco
  • Specialized
47 2.8

A plant with large leaves grown for smoking or chewing

is the specific South American species distinguished by tall size and large leaves
tobacco plant
vscommon tobacco
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A plant grown for its leaves that are dried and made into cigarettes or cigars

is the specific South American species known for tall growth and large leaves
Nicotiana tabacum
vscommon tobacco
  • Specialized
9.3

A tall South American plant with large leaves grown for cigarettes and cigars

is the common name used instead of the scientific species name

Surface Forms

common tobacco singular
common tobaccos plural

Morphology

common + tobacco

The phrase 'common tobacco' is a straightforward modifier+noun combination: 'common' (typical/frequent) modifies 'tobacco' (the plant), so it denotes the usual or typical type of tobacco. This compositional, literal pattern is cross-linguistically common and easily derivable by a B1 learner who knows the two constituents.

Etymology

Common tobacco may come from the word 'tabaco' that early Spanish explorers heard from native people in the Caribbean. They saw people smoke the large tobacco leaves or use a pipe called 'tabaco', so the word came to mean the tall plant grown for its leaves used to make cigarettes and cigars.