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Glite Dictionary
hoary willow

hoary willow

9.6
A shrub with whitish gray leaves that grows near rivers in North America
  • noun
  • /ˈhɔːri ˈwɪloʊ/
  • US
translation icon : sauce hoary
  • The hoary willow thrives in moist soils along riverbanks in North America.

Examples

  • The hoary willow is known for its striking grayish leaves.

  • Botanists studied the distinctive leaves of the hoary willow to understand its adaptation to the environment.

  • A cluster of hoary willow bushes bordered the edge of the meadow.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the hoary willow for its unique appearance.

  • A cluster of hoary willow bushes bordered the edge of the meadow.

  • The hoary willow thrives in moist soils along riverbanks in North America.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the hoary willow for its unique appearance.

Synonyms

sage willow
vshoary willow
  • US
9.5

A North American shrub with long narrow light gray or white leaves

is the same shrub but called by another common name
Salix candida
vshoary willow
  • Specialized
9.9

A small willow shrub with white fuzzy leaves that grows in wet places

is the familiar common-name label rather than the scientific species name

Surface Forms

hoary willow singular
hoary willows plural

Morphology

hoary + willow

The meaning 'a willow with whitish/grayish (hairy) leaves' is directly compositional: 'hoary' describes the surface quality and 'willow' names the tree/shrub. This straightforward adjective + noun combination follows standard descriptive noun-phrase formation and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Hoary willow gets its name from the plant's look: the leaves and stems are covered with tiny white hairs, so hoary means 'white or frosty' and willow is the type of tree. That's why the name describes a willow with pale, grayish leaves.