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Glite Dictionary
sneezeweed yarrow

sneezeweed yarrow

9.9
A herb from Europe and Asia with small white flowers and green leaves that can make you sneeze when powdered
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : mil hojas
  • The powdered leaves of sneezeweed yarrow were traditionally used to induce sneezing.

Examples

  • We found patches of sneezeweed yarrow growing wild along the countryside path.

  • Some people experience an allergic reaction when handling sneezeweed yarrow in their gardens.

  • The sneezeweed yarrow blooms beautifully in the summer.

  • Don't touch sneezeweed yarrow!

  • When the herbalist powdered the leaves of sneezeweed yarrow, it caused her to sneeze uncontrollably.

  • Many gardeners wear gloves when handling sneezeweed yarrow due to its ability to cause sneezing.

  • The sneezeweed yarrow in the meadow attracts attention with its white button-shaped flowers.

Synonyms

sneezewort
vssneezeweed yarrow
  • UK
9.9

A Eurasian plant with white button flowers and long grey-green leaves that can make you sneeze when powdered

uses a botanical label calling it an herb rather than a general plant
Achillea ptarmica
vssneezeweed yarrow
  • Specialized
9.9

A herb with small white button flowers and grey-green leaves that can cause sneezing when powdered

uses a common descriptive phrase rather than the scientific taxon

Surface Forms

sneezeweed yarrow singular
sneezeweed yarrows plural

Morphology

sneezeweed + yarrow

Both constituents are literal plant names and the phrase is a straightforward noun-noun compound naming a type of yarrow associated with sneeze-inducing properties. This compositional pattern is predictable and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows 'sneezeweed' and 'yarrow' can reasonably infer the meaning.

Etymology

The plant name sneezeweed yarrow comes from an old use: people powdered the leaves of yarrow, called sneezeweed, to make someone 'sneeze' on purpose. That's why the name still links the plant to 'sneezing' today.