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Glite Dictionary
deciduous holly

deciduous holly

8.2
A North American tree that loses its leaves in winter and has bright red berries
  • noun
  • /dɪˈsɪdʒuəs ˈhɑli/
  • US
translation icon : acebo caducifolio
  • In the fall, the deciduous holly loses its leaves, revealing the bright red berries underneath.

Examples

  • Gardeners appreciate deciduous holly for its striking berries and its ability to thrive in wet soils.

  • Deciduous hollies or possumhaws (Ilex decidua) are now leafless, but the female trees are simply ablaze with red holly berries.

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  • The deciduous holly offers vibrant red berries throughout the winter months.

Synonyms

Ilex decidua
vsdeciduous holly
  • Specialized
9.9

A small tree or bush that loses its leaves and has bright red berries

is the common name describing the same plant that loses leaves in winter
winterberry
vsdeciduous holly
  • US
8.2

A small bush with bright red berries that stay through winter

refers to a particular species that loses leaves and produces bright berries

Surface Forms

deciduous holly singular
deciduous hollies plural

Morphology

deciduous + holly

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'deciduous' means 'loses leaves seasonally' and 'holly' names the plant, so the phrase denotes a holly that sheds its leaves. This is a direct, cross-linguistically common combination and a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Deciduous holly is a name that gives a clear picture. Deciduous means 'drops its leaves' and holly is the plant with bright red berries, so the name means a holly that loses its leaves in winter.