holly family

6.2

A group of shrubs and trees like holly with shiny green leaves and red berries

noun
/ˈhɑli ˈfæmɪli/

Specialized

: familia de acebos

Many plants in the holly family are prized for ornamental purposes in gardens and landscapes.

Examples

The holly family includes many varieties of shrubs.
Botanists have documented the distribution of the holly family across different continents and climates.
The holly family includes numerous species known for their glossy, evergreen leaves and bright red berries.
Many species in the holly family are evergreen.
The inkberry is a unique plant that belongs to the holly family and thrives in wetland areas.
Many species within the holly family are valued for their ornamental qualities and berries.
During the holiday season, decorations often feature leaves from the holly family for their vibrant appearance.

Synonyms

Aquifoliaceae

vsholly family

Specialized

9.9

A family of bushes and trees like holly with berries

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific name

Surface Forms

holly family singular

holly families plural

Morphology

holly + family

The meaning 'a family of shrubs and trees including holly' is directly composed from 'holly' (the plant) + 'family' (a grouping of related species), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes the taxonomic group containing hollies. This noun-noun composition is common in botanical naming and across languages, making the phrase readily understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Holly family comes from the common holly and the word family, which means a 'group' of related plants. So the name tells us it is a group of shrubs and trees that share holly-like shiny leaves and bright red berries.