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Glite Dictionary
downy birch

downy birch

7.7
A tree with soft hairy young branches and dull white bark
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : abeto peludo
  • The downy birch is commonly found in wet woodlands and marshy areas of northern Europe.

Examples

  • Unlike the silver birch, the downy birch has hairy shoots and duller bark.

  • The leaves of the downy birch are softer and less serrated compared to other birch species.

  • Look at that downy birch!

  • The downy birch is known for its beautiful bark.

  • The downy birch is often used in landscaping due to its striking appearance and ability to thrive in damp soil.

  • In spring, the downy birch produces catkins that attract various pollinators to the garden.

  • The downy birch is easily recognizable by its soft, hairy branches and pale bark.

Synonyms

Betula pubescens
vsdowny birch
  • UK
9.9

A small to medium tree with pale white or brown bark and hanging hairy branches

is the everyday common name used in general speech

Surface Forms

downy birch singular
downy birches plural

Morphology

downy + birch

The adjective 'downy' (soft, covered with fine hairs) straightforwardly modifies 'birch' to mean a birch tree that is covered in fine hairs; the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituent words. This simple adjective + noun composition is common across languages and follows regular English patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Downy birch comes from the soft, furry 'down' on its young branches. downy means covered in soft hairs and birch is the tree, so the name means 'a birch tree with fine hairs on its branches and dull bark'.