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Glite Dictionary
deer's-ears

deer's-ears

9.9
A tall plant with narrow leaves like deer ears that grows on dry hills in western North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : orejas de ciervo
  • We identified the herb by its tall stem and the distinctive shape of its deer's-ears leaves.

Examples

  • The slopes were covered in deer's-ears, their pale green leaves shining in the sun.

  • Botanists surveyed populations of deer's-ears in several Californian counties.

  • Look at those beautiful deer's-ears over there!

  • The deer's-ears thrive in the dry climate of the Rockies.

  • Botanists surveyed populations of deer's-ears in several Californian counties.

  • The slopes were covered in deer's-ears, their pale green leaves shining in the sun.

  • We identified the herb by its tall stem and the distinctive shape of its deer's-ears leaves.

Synonyms

columbo
vsdeer's-ears
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A tall plant that lives for many years and grows in dry high places of western North America

emphasizes narrow leaf shape rather than just habitat description
deer's-ear
vsdeer's-ears
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall flowering plant that grows on dry hills in the western United States

has identical meaning but names them in a plural form
American columbo
vsdeer's-ears
  • US
9.9

A tall plant that lives for many years and grows on dry hills in western North America

uses detail about erect stems and narrow leaves rather than regional naming
American gentian
vsdeer's-ears
  • US
9.9

A tall plant that lives for many years and grows on dry hills in western North America

is specific about distinctive stems and leaves rather than grouping species
pyramid plant
vsdeer's-ears
  • US
9.9

A tall plant with a stalk and pale green flowers that grows on dry sunny hills in western US

stresses narrow leaf shape and erect stems rather than a shape based name

Surface Forms

deer's-ears singular
deer's-ears plural

Morphology

deer's-ears = deer + ear (transparent) = deer + ear

The plant name literally refers to the leaves resembling a deer's ears, so the meaning follows directly from 'deer' + 'ear' compounding.

Etymology

Deer's-ears comes from a simple image: the plant's long, narrow leaves look like a deer's 'ears'. So the name helps you remember this tall herb by its ear-shaped leaves.