mole plant
- noun
- /moʊl plænt/
- UK
:
planta topo
- Gardeners sometimes grow the mole plant to deter burrowing animals from vegetable beds.
Examples
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Because the mole plant is poisonous, it should be handled with care, especially around children and pets.
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The seeds of the mole plant are known to produce a strong purgative oil.
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The mole plant is effective at keeping moles away.
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In my garden, I grow mole plants to deter pests.
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Gardeners sometimes grow the mole plant to deter burrowing animals from vegetable beds.
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Because the mole plant is poisonous, it should be handled with care, especially around children and pets.
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The seeds of the mole plant are known to produce a strong purgative oil.
Synonyms
2
3.5
A plant that can be deadly if you touch it or eat it
A poisonous plant from southern Europe whose seeds make an oil that causes severe diarrhea
A poisonous plant with milky sap whose seeds have an oil once used as a laxative
How Poisonous
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'mole plant' is compositionally built from 'mole' + 'plant' and a B1 learner will readily infer it denotes a plant associated with moles (e.g., one that repels or affects them). Specific botanical or usage details (poisonous species, purgative oil) are not derivable from the words, but the basic referent is directly predictable and follows a common noun+noun naming pattern.
Etymology
Mole plant got its name because gardeners planted this plant near vegetable beds to keep moles away. Its bitter, poisonous seeds and oil were used to 'deter' burrowing animals, so today the name tells us it is a poisonous plant grown to protect gardens.