garland crab
- noun
- /ˈɡɑːrlənd kræb/
- US
:
manzano de flor de guirnalda
- The garland crab is celebrated for its profusion of delicate pink blossoms each spring.
Examples
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Birds are attracted to the yellow fruit produced by the garland crab.
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We planted a garland crab in the front yard for its ornamental value.
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The garland crab is a beautiful tree.
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Many garland crabs bloom in spring.
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The garland crab tree produces lovely pink flowers that attract pollinators in early spring.
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In the fall, the small yellow fruit of the garland crab tree becomes a favorite snack for various birds.
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We chose to plant a garland crab because its vibrant blossoms enhance the beauty of our garden.
Synonyms
A medium-sized tree with pink blossoms and small yellow fruit
A medium-sized tree from the eastern United States with pink flowers and small yellow fruit called the American crab apple
Surface Forms
Morphology
garland + crab
The constituents 'garland' (a wreath of flowers) and 'crab' (commonly an animal or a component of 'crabapple') do not transparently combine to indicate a medium-sized flowering tree with small yellow fruit; this is a lexicalized botanical name whose meaning is culturally and taxonomically specific. A B1 learner who knows the basic senses of the parts would not reliably infer the referent or botanical properties, so the expression is effectively idiomatic/opaque for learners.
Etymology
The tree called garland crab gets its name from two images. Its pink flowers look like a garland, and its small yellow fruit are like a crab, a 'small apple', so the name helps you remember a tree with pretty blossoms and little fruit.
