silver fern
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5.8
- noun
- In its native habitat, the silver fern thrives in humid, shaded areas.
Examples
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The silver fern is easily identified by the pale color beneath its fronds.
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Many gardeners admire the silver fern for its distinctive appearance.
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The silver fern is a symbol of New Zealand.
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I found a silver fern while hiking in the forest.
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The silver fern is often seen in New Zealand's lush forests, its fronds shining with a silvery hue underneath.
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Many tourists take photos of the silver fern, enchanted by its beautiful white undersides in the sunlight.
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The silver fern's striking appearance makes it popular among gardeners who appreciate its unique coloring.
Synonyms
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8.8
A large fern with a tall dark trunk and long feather-like leaves that form a crown
A fern with white undersides on its leaves that grows in southern tropical Africa
A tropical fern with leaves that are white underneath
A tall fern with divided leaves and shiny silver undersides
A small fern with narrow leaves that look shiny and silver underneath
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a type of fern with silvery undersides' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'silver' (silvery pale hue) with 'fern' (the plant), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the referent. This noun–noun compounding pattern is common and cross-linguistically natural, making the MWE immediately comprehensible from its parts.
Etymology
Silver fern The plant name silver fern comes from a fern whose leaves have a pale, shiny underside that looks silver in the light. So the name simply means a fern with 'silvery' undersides.