green dragon
- noun
:
dragón verde
- During spring, the green dragon blooms with unique green flowers that attract attention.
Examples
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The green dragon is a striking plant often found in shaded woodlands.
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Big, green dragon.
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Many hikers enjoy spotting the green dragon along their woodland trails in North America.
Synonyms
A plant that grows in woods with split leaves and a long narrow hooded flower
Surface Forms
Morphology
green + dragon
The phrase 'green dragon' as a plant name is a lexicalized common name whose meaning (a specific plant) is not predictable from 'green' + 'dragon' — a B1 learner would normally interpret it as a dragon that is green, not a botanical species. This sense is a conventionalized, metaphorical name requiring prior exposure, so the meaning is not derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Green dragon gets its name from the look of the flower: a green hooded leaf and a long, thin spike that together can look like a little green dragon. So the name paints a simple picture and explains why people call this type of plant 'green dragon'.
