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golden stars

golden stars

1 9.9
A plant from California with grasslike leaves and bright orange flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
: estrellas doradas
  • Hikers spotted clusters of golden stars growing along the California trail.

Examples

  • Each spring, the hills were dotted with golden stars in full bloom.

  • The golden stars bloom beautifully in the spring.

  • The golden stars added a vibrant splash of color to the garden.

  • Look at the golden stars!

  • Each spring, the hills were dotted with golden stars in full bloom.

  • Hikers spotted clusters of golden stars growing along the California trail.

  • The golden stars added a vibrant splash of color to the garden.

Synonyms

golden star
vsgolden stars
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A plant with long narrow leaves and bright orange-yellow flowers that grows in dry open places in California

is the scientific designation rather than everyday naming
Bloomeria crocea
vsgolden stars
  • Specialized
9.9

A Californian plant with long grasslike leaves and bright orange star-shaped flowers

is the common name used rather than the technical botanical label

Surface Forms

golden stars singular
golden stars plural

Morphology

golden + star

The label is compositionally built from 'golden' (gold-coloured) + 'stars' (star-shaped objects), so a B1 learner who knows the words will infer something that is gold-coloured and star-like (in this case flowers). Although it is a botanical name for a specific plant, the descriptive imagery is directly derivable and follows common noun+modifier patterns, making the sense transparent to learners.

Etymology

Golden stars is the name people gave to a small wildflower because its bright orange-yellow blooms look like tiny golden stars on the hills. So the name, made from golden and stars, means 'a plant with bright, star-shaped flowers'.