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Glite Dictionary
greater spearwort

greater spearwort

9.9
A tall plant that grows near water with long spear-shaped leaves and yellow flowers
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : ranúnculo lengua
  • In spring, greater spearwort produces striking yellow flowers along the riverbank.

Examples

  • The pond was edged with tall, leafy greater spearwort swaying gently in the breeze.

  • The greater spearwort thrives in wetland areas.

  • Botanists identified the plant as greater spearwort due to its long, spear-shaped leaves.

  • You can find greater spearworts near rivers and ponds.

  • In spring, greater spearwort produces striking yellow flowers along the riverbank.

  • The pond was edged with tall, leafy greater spearwort swaying gently in the breeze.

  • The greater spearwort thrives in wetland areas, providing habitat for local wildlife.

Synonyms

Ranunculus lingua
vsgreater spearwort
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant that grows in wetlands with long pointed leaves and yellow buttercup flowers

is the common English name for the same semiaquatic buttercup species

Surface Forms

greater spearwort singular
greater spearworts plural

Morphology

greater + spearwort

The modifier 'greater' clearly signals a larger variety, which is transparent. However, 'spearwort' is a specialised botanical name (and not a common, decomposed phrase for a B1 learner); while one could infer 'spear-' refers to spear-shaped leaves, 'wort' is archaic/technical, so the full referent is only partially predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Greater spearwort may come from a simple image: it is a larger (greater) plant with long, pointed leaves like a spear, and 'wort' was an old word for a 'plant' or 'herb'. So the name describes a big plant with spear-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers.