laurel cherry
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7.8
- noun
- /ˈlɔːrəl ˈʧɛri/
- Specialized
- The laurel cherry is a popular choice for ornamental hedges in the southern states.
Examples
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Gardeners like to plant laurel cherry for its glossy green foliage and dense form.
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The berries of the laurel cherry closely resemble those of true cherries, but are not edible.
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The laurel cherry tree thrives in warm climates.
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Many gardeners choose laurel cherries for their landscaping.
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Many landscapers recommend planting laurel cherry for its attractive, glossy leaves and ability to thrive in southern climates.
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In the southern United States, laurel cherry is often used to create beautiful hedges due to its dense growth habit.
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The laurel cherry tree adds year-round greenery to gardens, making it a favorite among southern gardeners.
Synonyms
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7.0
A bush or small evergreen tree with shiny leaves and white flowers used as a garden hedge
1
9.9
A small evergreen tree from the southern United States with dark shiny leaves and small white flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound name combines two concrete plant nouns so its referent is directly inferable: 'laurel' (an evergreen) + 'cherry' (a tree) yields a tree with laurel-like/evergreen characteristics. Plant-naming noun+noun compounds are cross-linguistically common and show no idiomatic shift here, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely understand the meaning.
Etymology
Laurel cherry comes from how the tree looks: it has glossy leaves like laurel and small, round fruits like cherry. So the name tells you it is a small evergreen tree often used in gardens for its shiny leaves and cherry-like berries.