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Glite Dictionary
mahogany family

mahogany family

7.6
A group of tropical trees and shrubs that produce valuable wood and are grown in gardens
  • noun
  • /məˈhɔɡəni ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia de las meliáceas
  • The mahogany family includes many trees valued for their high-quality wood.

Examples

  • The mahogany family includes many valuable timber species.

  • Some members of the mahogany family are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.

  • A botanist explained how the mahogany family is important in both forestry and horticulture.

  • Did you know that the mahogany family consists of over 50 species?

  • The mahogany family includes several species that are prized for their beautiful grain and durability.

  • Many species from the mahogany family are cultivated for their ornamental value in landscape design.

  • The mahogany family is crucial for sustainable forestry due to its high-quality timber and ecological benefits.

Synonyms

Meliaceae
vsmahogany family
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of tropical trees and bushes that includes mahogany

is more focused on the subgroup known for prized timber production
family Meliaceae
vsmahogany family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of tropical trees and shrubs valued for timber and as garden or house plants

is used more for the group especially noted for valuable timber

Surface Forms

mahogany family singular
mahogany families plural

Morphology

mahogany + family

The phrase is directly compositional: 'mahogany' names a type of tree/wood and 'family' denotes a biological grouping, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a taxonomic group containing mahogany species. The pattern (X family = the family containing X) is common cross-linguistically and follows standard noun-noun composition, making the meaning transparent.

Etymology

Mahogany family shows a family of plants that include the mahogany tree. Plant experts put many tropical trees and shrubs that make similar rich, reddish wood into this 'family', so the phrase now means a group of related tropical trees and shrubs including mahoganies.