moth mullein
- noun
- /mɔθ ˈmʌlɪn/
- Specialized
:
mullein polilla
- The moth mullein has delicate yellow petals that attract pollinators in the summer.
Examples
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Look at the moth mullein!
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Gardeners often remove moth mullein to prevent it from overtaking native plants.
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The purple-flowered variety of moth mullein is less common but equally beautiful.
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The moth mullein is beautiful!
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In the summer, the garden was filled with tall stalks of moth mullein, showcasing their large yellow flowers.
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The herbalist suggested using moth mullein to make a natural remedy for respiratory issues.
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After noticing wild moth mullein growing in his yard, he decided to look up its uses and benefits.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A tall plant with soft, woolly leaves and spikes of yellow flowers
A plant from Europe with smooth leaves and tall yellow or purple flowers that often grows like a weed
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward compound: 'mullein' names the plant and 'moth' modifies it to indicate a type or association, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a kind of mullein related to moths. The meaning is compositional and non-idiomatic (a subtype naming pattern common across languages), making it readily understandable to B1 learners who know the constituents.
Etymology
Moth mullein was named because small moths often visit its pale flowers in the evening; people noticed the moths and called this plant moth mullein. So the name links the insect 'moth' with the plant and helps you remember its flowers attract moths.