cow lily
- noun
- /kaʊ ˈlɪli/
- US
:
lirio de vaca
- We watched turtles resting on the broad leaves of a cow lily in the marsh.
Examples
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The cow lily is often seen floating on the surface of quiet ponds and lakes.
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In early summer, the yellow blooms of the cow lily brighten up wetlands across the region.
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Look at that cow lily!
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The cow lily blooms beautifully in the summer.
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In early summer, the yellow blooms of the cow lily brighten up wetlands across the region.
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The cow lily is often seen floating on the surface of quiet ponds and lakes.
-
We watched turtles resting on the broad leaves of a cow lily in the marsh.
Synonyms
A water lily with broad leaves and round yellow flowers that grows in slow freshwater ponds
A water plant with broad leaves and round yellow flowers that floats on calm water
A water plant with broad leaves and round yellow flowers that grows in ponds
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'cow' modifies 'lily', signalling a particular kind of lily. A B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer it denotes a type of lily (likely named for an association such as size or appearance), so the meaning is transparently compositional.
Etymology
The plant name cow lily may come from farmers' cows grazing at the water's edge and nibbling the big, flat leaves and round yellow flowers of the lily. That's why people began to call this common yellow water-lily a 'cow lily'.
