elongate leaf
- noun
- Specialized
:
hoja alargada
- Many grasses have an elongate leaf structure, allowing them to sway in the wind without breaking.
Examples
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During the plant identification workshop, we learned to distinguish an elongate leaf from an oval one.
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The willow tree is easily recognized by its elongate leaves that hang gracefully from the branches.
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An elongate leaf can help a plant conserve water.
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Some species of grass have elongate leaves that grow tall.
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The elongate leaf of the plant allows it to capture more sunlight in crowded environments.
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In many tropical plants, the elongate leaf is adapted for efficient water drainage.
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The artist painted a picture of a flower with a vibrant elongate leaf that sways in the breeze.
Synonyms
A long narrow leaf with nearly parallel sides
A long narrow leaf shaped like a sword
A leaf longer than it is wide with nearly parallel sides and rounded ends
A long narrow leaf that is widest in the middle and pointed at both ends
A leaf shaped like a long oval that is widest in the middle and narrows equally to each end
Antonyms
How Slender
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase 'elongate leaf' is directly compositional: 'elongate' means long and narrow and 'leaf' is a plant leaf, so the combined meaning ('a long, slender leaf') follows straightforwardly from the constituents. This adjective+noun pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Elongate leaf is a picture phrase: elongate means long and thin and leaf is the flat green part of a plant. So the phrase means 'a long, narrow leaf' and helps you picture a leaf that is much longer than it is wide.
