lion's foot
- noun
- /ˈlaɪənz fʊt/
- US
:
pie de león
- The pinkish flowers of lion's foot droop gracefully above the broad, lobed leaves.
Examples
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Wild lion's foot can often be found growing along woodland edges in the southeastern United States.
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The gardener planted several lion's foot near the garden path for their attractive foliage.
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The lion's foot plant thrives in warm climates.
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Have you seen a lion's foot flower in bloom?
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The pinkish flowers of lion's foot droop gracefully above the broad, lobed leaves.
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The gardener planted several lion's foot near the garden path for their attractive foliage.
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Wild lion's foot can often be found growing along woodland edges in the southeastern United States.
Synonyms
A plant that lives for many years with thick leaves shaped like a lion's paw and drooping pink flowers
A perennial herb with thick leaves at the base and drooping pink flowers found in the southeastern United States
A plant that lives for several years with drooping clusters of pink flowers and broad leaves like a lion's paw
Surface Forms
Morphology
lion's + foot
The components 'lion's' (possessive of lion) and 'foot' transparently suggest something related to or resembling a lion's foot, so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely infer a shape/possession relation. However, the specific knowledge that this is the name of a perennial herb (a plant) cannot be deduced from the parts alone, so the meaning is partly predictable by resemblance but not fully accessible without exposure.
Etymology
Lion's foot gets its name from the plant's broad, lobed leaves that look like a lion's foot, so people used that image to name this 'plant'.
