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fairy cup

fairy cup

9.9
A small bright red mushroom with a cup-shaped body
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : taza de hadas
  • The vibrant fairy cup stood out among the moss on the forest floor.

Examples

  • Scientists discovered several fairy cups growing near the old oak tree.

  • Children marvelled at the bright red fairy cup during their nature walk.

  • The fairy cup is often found in damp woodland areas.

  • Have you ever seen a fairy cup in the forest?

  • The vibrant fairy cup mushroom caught the attention of hikers in the lush forest.

  • During the expedition, botanists identified several bright red fairy cups among the fallen leaves.

  • In early spring, the fairy cup fungi appear, brightening the damp woodland ground.

Synonyms

blood cup
vsfairy cup
  • UK
9.9

A small bright red mushroom with a cup-shaped body that grows in woods

is the same meaning but used as an alternative common name
Peziza coccinea
vsfairy cup
  • Specialized
9.9

A bright red cup-shaped fungus found on woodland ground in spring

is the everyday name used for that specific species rather than the scientific name
scarlet cup
vsfairy cup
9.9

A small bright red mushroom shaped like a cup that appears in early spring

is the common label for that small scarlet species rather than a formal name
Sarcoscypha coccinea
vsfairy cup
  • Specialized
9.9

A small mushroom with bright red, cup-shaped bodies that appear in early spring

is the common, nontechnical name rather than the scientific species designation
elf cup
vsfairy cup
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bright red mushroom shaped like a cup that grows on the forest floor

is the name for one specific small scarlet species rather than the whole family
cup fungus
vsfairy cup
  • Specialized
8.1

A small fungus with a cup-shaped body that holds spores

is one specific example within that broader group of cup-shaped fungi
ascocarp
vsfairy cup
  • Specialized
9.9

A part of some fungi that makes and releases spores, like a morel

is the whole organism rather than only its reproductive structure

Surface Forms

fairy cup singular
fairy cups plural

Morphology

fairy + cup

The noun combines 'fairy' (suggesting smallness or fancifulness) with 'cup' (a bowl-shaped object), so a learner who knows both words can plausibly guess a small, cup-shaped thing — possibly a flower. However, identifying it specifically as a perennial plant species (miterwort) is not fully predictable from the parts alone and could be misinterpreted as a tiny object or decorative cup; therefore the relation is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The noun fairy cup may come from the fungus's tiny, bright red, cup-shaped bodies that look like little cups for fairies. That's why the name is used for the small scarlet fungus.