scarlet sumac
- noun
- /ˈskɑrlɪt ˈsuːmæk/
- US
:
sumaque escarlata
- The scarlet sumac brightened the woods with its clusters of red fruit in late summer.
Examples
-
Wildlife often feed on the berries of the scarlet sumac during the winter months.
-
Many landscapers choose scarlet sumac for its hardiness and vibrant coloration.
-
The scarlet sumac is beautiful in autumn.
-
Have you seen a scarlet sumac before?
-
Landscapers often plant scarlet sumac to add color to their gardens.
-
During fall, the scarlet sumac showcases stunning red and orange foliage.
-
Birds love to eat the juicy berries from the scarlet sumac shrub.
Synonyms
A common shrub from eastern North America with smooth, waxy leaves and clusters of red berries
A shrub from eastern North America with red berries and leaves that turn bright red in fall
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally built from 'scarlet' (a bright red color) modifying 'sumac' (a shrub), so its meaning — a sumac that is scarlet in color — follows directly from the constituents. This color + noun pattern is a common, cross-linguistic descriptive construction and would be immediately clear to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
The name scarlet sumac comes from the plant's bright red berries and the old word sumac, which people once used to make a 'red' dye. So scarlet (bright red) plus sumac refers to this red-fruited shrub.
