giant sunflower

3.2

A very tall sunflower with thick edible roots

noun
/ˈdʒaɪənt ˈsʌnˌfloʊər/

Specialized

: girasol gigante

The giant sunflower in my garden is over ten feet tall.

Examples

Native Americans traditionally harvested the roots of the giant sunflower as a food source.
The edible tubers of the giant sunflower are valued in some indigenous cuisines.
A giant sunflower can reach impressive heights in just one growing season.
Have you seen the giant sunflowers at the fair?
A giant sunflower can reach impressive heights in just one growing season.
Native Americans traditionally harvested the roots of the giant sunflower as a food source.
The edible tubers of the giant sunflower are valued in some indigenous cuisines.

Synonyms

Helianthus giganteus

vsgiant sunflower

Specialized

9.5

A very tall plant like a sunflower that has roots you can eat

is the common name used instead of the botanical label

tall sunflower

vsgiant sunflower

5.0

A very tall plant with large yellow flowers and edible underground roots

highlights edible tuberous roots as a notable feature

Surface Forms

giant sunflower singular

giant sunflowers plural

Morphology

giant + sunflower

The phrase is a simple adjective+noun composition where 'giant' (very large) modifies 'sunflower' (a tall plant), so the meaning 'a very large sunflower' is directly and transparently derivable from the constituents. This follows a common, cross-linguistic adjectival modification pattern that a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand.

Etymology

Giant sunflower may come from how people long ago named a very tall plant with a big, sun-shaped flower and thick, edible roots. The word giant points to 'very tall' and sunflower to the 'sun-like' head, so the name describes a very tall sunflower with edible roots.