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Glite Dictionary
sour dock

sour dock

8.6
A plant with large sour leaves used in salads and spring greens
  • noun
translation icon : acederas
  • The farmer grows sour dock alongside other spring greens for the local market.

Examples

  • Some chefs prize sour dock for its tangy flavor in seasonal dishes.

  • We picked fresh sour dock leaves for our salad while hiking.

  • I added some sour dock to my salad.

  • Have you tried sour dock in your cooking?

  • Adding sour dock leaves to your salad can bring a tangy flavor.

  • The chef used sour dock leaves to create a unique spring dish.

  • For a vitamin-rich meal, try incorporating sour dock into your spring greens mix.

Synonyms

sorrel
vssour dock
2 7.0

A plant with sour green leaves used in salads or cooking

is a specific cultivated species used for salads and spring greens
Rumex acetosa
vssour dock
  • Specialized
9.9

A leafy plant with large sour leaves eaten raw in salads

is the cultivated form grown in temperate regions for salads and spring greens
garden sorrel
vssour dock
5.6

A plant with sour leaves used in salads and cooking

is the same species emphasising garden cultivation for salads and spring greens
common sorrel
vssour dock
6.1

A leafy herb with sour pointed leaves used in salads and sauces

is mainly grown for salads and early spring greens

Surface Forms

sour dock singular
sour docks plural

Morphology

sour + dock

This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'sour' (acidic/tart) modifies 'dock' (a leafy Rumex used as a green). The meaning—a dock plant with tart leaves—is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a common compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.

Etymology

Sour dock comes from a simple picture: sour points to the plant's sharp, 'tart' taste and dock is the everyday name for these broad-leaf 'sorrel' plants. So, sour dock means a tart sorrel leaf used as a spring green in salads and cooking.