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Glite Dictionary
nutmeg-yew

nutmeg-yew

9.9
A California evergreen tree with fruit that looks like nutmeg but smells strongly of turpentine
  • noun
  • /ˈnʌtˌmɛɡ ju/
  • US
translation icon : tejo nuez moscada
  • Many people are surprised to learn that the nutmeg-yew produces fruit that tastes like turpentine.

Examples

  • The nutmeg-yew is native to California's coastal forests.

  • Although it looks similar to nutmeg, the fruit of the nutmeg-yew is not edible.

  • Botanists studied the unusual properties of the nutmeg-yew's fruit.

  • The nutmeg-yew tree can grow up to 50 feet tall.

  • Have you ever seen a nutmeg-yew in person?

  • The nutmeg-yew tree is known for its distinctive, aromatic foliage.

  • In the garden, the nutmeg-yew adds a unique visual element with its evergreen branches.

Synonyms

California nutmeg
vsnutmeg-yew
  • Specialized
9.9

An evergreen tree with seeds like nutmeg that taste strongly of turpentine

is the common name used without the species name
Torreya californica
vsnutmeg-yew
  • Specialized
9.9

An evergreen tree from California with sharp leaves and fruit tasting of turpentine

emphasizes the fruit's strong turpentine flavor instead of leaf detail

Surface Forms

nutmeg-yew singular
nutmeg-yews plural

Morphology

nutmeg-yew = nutmeg + yew (transparent) = nutmeg + yew

A straightforward noun-noun compound: a yew whose fruit resembles nutmeg, so the meaning is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word nutmeg-yew comes from the two English words nutmeg and yew: the tree's fruit looks like nutmeg ('a spice') and the tree itself is a yew ('an evergreen'). So the name tells you it is a yew with fruit that reminds people of nutmeg, even though the fruit is not edible and has a strong turpentine flavor.