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Glite Dictionary
golden rain

golden rain

1 7.4
A small tree with hanging clusters of yellow flowers often used in gardens and for Easter decorations
  • noun
  • /ˈɡoʊldən reɪn/
translation icon : lluvia dorada
  • We planted a golden rain to add vibrant color to our backyard landscape.
  • golden rain tree

Examples

  • The golden rain tree in my garden bursts with bright yellow flowers every spring.

  • Now right in front of me, there's a golden rain tree that's in its prime looking beautiful.

  • Instead, the tropical effect is achieved by using hardy plants like golden rain trees and ornamental grasses—things with large foliage or compound leaves.

    Academic text (1995)

  • During Easter, the golden rain branches were decorated with ribbons and eggs for a festive look.

Synonyms

common laburnum
vsgolden rain
8.7

A small tree with long hanging yellow flowers often grown in gardens

is the general genus term for the ornamental plant, not the species name
Laburnum anagyroides
vsgolden rain
  • Specialized
9.9

A small tree or large bush with hanging groups of yellow flowers used in gardens

is the less specific general name for the same ornamental plant
golden chain
vsgolden rain
8.2

A small tree or bush with long clusters of bright yellow flowers

is the other common name referring to the same ornamental plant

Surface Forms

golden rain singular
golden rains plural

Morphology

golden + rain

The phrase evokes a clear image from its parts—'golden' (gold-coloured) plus 'rain' (a torrent or shower)—so learners can infer something like a profusion of golden flowers or petals. However, knowing the words alone does not reliably indicate that it names a specific shrub/tree species, so the relation is metaphorical and only partially predictable.

Etymology

Golden rain comes from the way the tree's long, yellow flower clusters hang like a shower of golden drops or rain from the branches. That's why the name now means this 'ornamental shrub' people plant to brighten gardens in spring.