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cow-wheat

cow-wheat

9.9
A wild plant that grows in woods and meadows with small yellow flowers
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : trigo de vaca
  • The delicate yellow flowers of cow-wheat brightened the shady woodland floor.

Examples

  • Many insects are attracted to cow-wheat during the summer months.

  • We spotted some cow-wheat growing along the forest path.

  • The cow-wheat blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Have you seen a cow-wheat plant before?

  • We spotted some cow-wheat growing along the forest path.

  • The delicate yellow flowers of cow-wheat brightened the shady woodland floor.

  • Many insects are attracted to cow-wheat during the summer months.

Surface Forms

cow-wheat singular
cow-wheats plural

Morphology

cow-wheat = cow + wheat (semi-transparent) = cow + wheat

The components 'cow' and 'wheat' are obvious, but the compound names a specific wild plant species and the relation to the literal meanings is not directly inferable for learners.

Etymology

Cow-wheat combines cow and wheat because people long ago found the plant where cows grazed and thought its small flower heads looked like little 'wheat'. So the name helps you remember that it is a wild plant often seen in fields and woods.