meadow clary

9.5

A tall plant with blue flowers that grows in open grasslands

noun

: salvia de pradera

Gardeners often plant meadow clary for its attractive blue blossoms and ability to attract bees.

Examples

During our walk, we spotted several meadow clary among the wildflowers in the field.
The meadow clary adds a vibrant splash of color to the summer grasslands.
Look at the meadow clary!
The meadow clary is blooming beautifully this spring.
During our walk, we spotted several meadow clary among the wildflowers in the field.
Gardeners often plant meadow clary for its attractive blue blossoms and ability to attract bees.
The meadow clary adds a vibrant splash of color to the summer grasslands.

Synonyms

Salvia pratensis

vsmeadow clary

Specialized

9.8

A tall wild plant with violet-blue flowers that grows in meadows

is the common English name used in everyday speech and gardens

Surface Forms

meadow clary singular

meadow claries plural

Morphology

meadow + clary

The meaning is directly compositional: 'meadow' (a grassy field) modifies 'clary' (a herb), so 'meadow clary' denotes the clary that grows in meadows. This straightforward noun–noun modifier pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Meadow clary is a name that tells a little story: meadow shows it grows in open fields, and clary comes from an old word meaning 'clear' because clary plants were once used to help sore eyes. So the name helps you remember a clary plant that grows in meadows.