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family Geraniaceae

family Geraniaceae

8.4
A group of mainly small plants like geraniums with lobed leaves and five-petaled flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˌdʒɛrəˈniːeɪsi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Geraniaceae
  • Many garden varieties belong to the family Geraniaceae, known for their attractive flowers.

Examples

  • The family Geraniaceae includes both annual and perennial species.

  • Botanists classify wild geraniums under the family Geraniaceae.

  • The family Geraniaceae includes many popular garden plants.

  • Plants from the family Geraniaceae are known for their vibrant colors.

  • Many garden varieties belong to the family Geraniaceae, known for their attractive flowers.

  • The family Geraniaceae includes both annual and perennial species.

  • Botanists classify wild geraniums under the family Geraniaceae.

Synonyms

Geraniaceae
vsfamily Geraniaceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of flowering plants that includes garden plants like geraniums and pelargoniums

is the common name used in speech rather than the formal botanical name
geranium family
vsfamily Geraniaceae
  • Specialized
6.5

A group of mostly herb-like plants that make flowers, often grown in gardens

is the formal botanical name used mainly in taxonomy rather than everyday speech

Surface Forms

Morphology

family + Geraniaceae

This is a compositional noun phrase: 'family' (a taxonomic grouping) combined with the proper name 'Geraniaceae' yields 'the family called Geraniaceae.' The meaning is directly derivable and follows cross-linguistic taxonomic naming conventions, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Family Geraniaceae comes from the same root as the word geranium, an old Greek word for 'crane', because the plant's seed pod looks like a crane's long beak. So family Geraniaceae simply means the group of plants like geraniums that share this beak shape.