field chickweed

9.9

A small green plant that grows in thick groups in cool regions and lives for many years

noun
/fiːld ˈtʃɪkwiːd/

: pata de gallo

The densely tufted leaves of field chickweed provide ground cover in temperate climates.

Examples

Gardeners often remove field chickweed to prevent it from spreading among their flowers.
In late spring, farmers notice field chickweed forming dense patches in fallow fields.
I found some field chickweed in my garden.
The field chickweed grows abundantly in the spring.
In late spring, farmers notice field chickweed forming dense patches in fallow fields.
Gardeners often remove field chickweed to prevent it from spreading among their flowers.
The densely tufted leaves of field chickweed provide ground cover in temperate climates.

Synonyms

Cerastium arvense

vsfield chickweed

Specialized

9.9

A small wild plant with white flowers that grows in dense groups

is the same plant but referred to by a general common term

field mouse-ear

vsfield chickweed

9.9

A small plant with white flowers that grows in grassy meadows

is the same plant but named by a different common label

Surface Forms

chickweed singular

chickweeds plural

Morphology

field + chickweed

The compound is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'chickweed' is the head and 'field' specifies the location or variety, so the meaning ('a chickweed found in fields') is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional subtype pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English compound formation, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

Field chickweed is a very literal name: field shows where the plant grows and chickweed was a simple name for a small weed chickens liked to eat. So the name means a small plant that grows in thick patches in fields.