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Glite Dictionary
genus Berberis

genus Berberis

8.8
Shrubs with sharp spines and bright berries that people often grow in gardens
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈbɜːrbərɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Berberis
  • The genus Berberis includes shrubs that produce sharp spines and brightly colored berries.

Examples

  • Many species within the genus Berberis are used as ornamental plants in gardens.

  • Several plants in the genus Berberis are valued for their medicinal properties.

  • The genus Berberis includes many species of shrubs.

  • Did you know that the genus Berberis is often used in landscaping?

  • Many species within the genus Berberis are used as ornamental plants in gardens.

  • Several plants in the genus Berberis are valued for their medicinal properties.

  • The genus Berberis includes shrubs that produce sharp spines and brightly colored berries.

Synonyms

Berberis
vsgenus Berberis
  • Specialized
9.3

A group of thorny bushes with small sour berries often planted in gardens

is the same meaning but used as a formal taxonomic phrase

Surface Forms

genus Berberis singular
genera Berberis plural

Morphology

genus + Berberis

The meaning is directly compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with 'Berberis' (the name of that group of shrubs) yields 'the genus named Berberis.' This follows a straightforward taxonomic noun-noun pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Berberis gets its name from the old word for the barberry plant, Berberis, which you can picture as a thorny bush with bright red berries often grown in gardens and used in medicine. So, genus Berberis simply means 'a group of barberry shrubs'.