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Glite Dictionary
musk thistle

musk thistle

8.8
A spiny plant with red nodding flowers that have a strong smell and give nectar to bees
  • noun
  • /mʌsk ˈθɪsəl/
  • UK
translation icon : cardo almizclero
  • Conservationists are concerned about the spread of musk thistle in local grasslands.

Examples

  • Beekeepers appreciate musk thistle for the abundant nectar it provides.

  • The field was covered with musk thistle, its crimson heads nodding in the breeze.

  • The musk thistle blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Have you seen a musk thistle before?

  • The musk thistle is known for attracting many pollinators with its sweet nectar.

  • Farmers often try to control musk thistle populations due to their invasive nature.

  • In the summer, gardens filled with musk thistle can be a beautiful sight with their striking red flowers.

Synonyms

Carduus nutans
vsmusk thistle
  • Specialized
9.9

A spiny plant from Europe and Asia with drooping red-purple flower heads that grows wild in fields

focuses on its nectar value rather than technical identification
nodding thistle
vsmusk thistle
  • UK
9.3

A spiny plant with soft white leaves and drooping red flower heads

highlights musky scent and value for pollinators besides appearance

Surface Forms

musk thistle singular
musk thistles plural

Morphology

musk + thistle

The meaning ('a thistle with a musky scent') is directly and compositionally derived from 'musk' (a scent) modifying 'thistle' (a spiny plant); the attributive noun pattern is regular in English. This straightforward noun–noun compound is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Musk thistle was named for its strong musk smell and its thistle shape, with sharp leaves and nodding purple flower heads. So the name gives a clear picture of a prickly, musky-scented plant that often attracts bees.