snowdrop tree

8.4

A medium-sized tree from the south of the United States with showy white bell-shaped flowers

noun

: árbol de campanilla

The snowdrop tree is often planted for its attractive white blossoms in spring.

Examples

The snowdrop tree thrives in well-drained, acidic soils.
The snowdrop tree blooms beautifully in the spring.
Gardeners in the South appreciate the snowdrop tree for its ornamental value.
I saw a snowdrop tree in my neighbor's yard.
Gardeners in the South appreciate the snowdrop tree for its ornamental value.
The snowdrop tree is often planted for its attractive white blossoms in spring.
The snowdrop tree thrives in well-drained, acidic soils.

Synonyms

Halesia tetraptera

vssnowdrop tree

Specialized

9.9

A medium-sized tree that loses leaves in winter and has white bell-shaped flowers

emphasizes flowers that resemble a small white spring bulb bloom

Halesia carolina

vssnowdrop tree

Specialized

9.9

A medium-sized tree with white bell-shaped flowers in spring

highlights the same flowers but focuses on their resemblance to a small bulb bloom

silverbell tree

vssnowdrop tree

8.1

A medium-sized tree with white, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in spring

draws attention instead to flowers that specifically resemble a small bulb bloom

silver-bell tree

vssnowdrop tree

9.4

A medium-sized tree that loses its leaves and has white bell-shaped flowers

points to the flowers' likeness to a small white spring bulb flower

Surface Forms

snowdrop tree singular

snowdrop trees plural

Morphology

snowdrop + tree

The phrase combines 'snowdrop' (a bell-shaped white spring flower) and 'tree' to denote a tree that has snowdrop-like flowers; this meaning is directly compositional and predictable from the constituents. It follows a common noun+noun naming pattern used cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Snowdrop tree is named after the small spring flower, the snowdrop, because the tree's many white, bell-shaped blooms look like groups of snowdrops covering a tree. That's why the name means 'a tree with showy white flowers'.