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Glite Dictionary
miniature fan palm

miniature fan palm

8.4
A small tropical plant with fan-shaped leaves, thin stems, and loose fibers at the leaf bases
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : palma abanico enana
  • I admired the delicate fibers along the stems of the miniature fan palm in the greenhouse.

Examples

  • The miniature fan palm is a popular choice for small tropical gardens.

  • Despite its small size, the miniature fan palm adds elegance to indoor spaces.

  • The miniature fan palm adds a tropical touch to any room.

  • I bought a miniature fan palm for my desk.

  • The miniature fan palm is an ideal plant for decorating small apartments.

  • I placed the miniature fan palm in the corner of my living room for a touch of greenery.

  • At the botanical garden, the miniature fan palm caught my eye with its unique shape and texture.

Synonyms

Rhapis excelsa
vsminiature fan palm
  • Specialized
8.6

A small decorative palm often grown indoors or outdoors for its thin stems and green leaves

focuses on physical stem and fiber features rather than cultivation
fern rhapis
vsminiature fan palm
9.9

A small decorative palm with thin stems and coarse fibers at the leaf bases

focuses on the species' physical form rather than gardening use
lady palm
vsminiature fan palm
  • Specialized
6.6

A small indoor plant with many thin, fan-shaped leaves

highlights slender reedlike stems and loose fibrous leaf bases rather than houseplant use

Surface Forms

miniature fan palm singular
miniature fan palms plural

Morphology

miniature + fanned + palm

The phrase denotes a small palm species and this meaning is transparently built from 'miniature' (very small) + 'fanned' (fan-shaped) + 'palm' (a type of tree). The size+shape+noun compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Miniature fan palm comes from how the plant looks: a miniature ('small') palm whose leaves open like a fan and whose thin, reed-like stems have loose, rough fibers at the base of the leaves. So, the name tells you it is a small palm with fan-shaped leaves and loose fibers.