living rock
- noun
- South African
:
roca viviente
- She bought several living rocks to create a miniature desert landscape on her windowsill.
Examples
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Because living rock plants blend with stones, they are less likely to be eaten by grazing animals.
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The living rock thrives in dry climates.
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Many collectors admire the unique appearance of living rock succulents in their gardens.
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I bought a living rock for my collection.
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Because living rock plants blend with stones, they are less likely to be eaten by grazing animals.
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Many collectors admire the unique appearance of living rock succulents in their gardens.
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She bought several living rocks to create a miniature desert landscape on her windowsill.
Synonyms
Small plants from South Africa without stems called living stones that store water
A small plant that grows in clumps with thick grey-green leaves that look like stones
A small plant with thick leaves that look like stones and a single yellow or white flower
A small plant with thick leaves that looks like a stone and has yellow or white flowers
A small water-storing plant with thick leaves that look like stones
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'living' (alive) + 'rock' (stone) yield a plausible interpretation for a B1 learner — something rock-like that is alive — so the phrase gives a partial, compositional clue. However, the established botanical sense (a specific cactus species) is a conventionalized, specialized meaning that cannot be fully predicted from the parts, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
Living rock names small, stemless plants that look very much like grey stones. Because they sit low and blend in with the rocks—looking like rock but actually living plants—people called them 'living rock', meaning a plant that looks like a stone.
