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Glite Dictionary
spatterdock

spatterdock

9.9
A water plant with broad leaves and round yellow flowers that grows in ponds
  • noun
  • /ˈspætərˌdɒk/
  • US
translation icon : lirio de agua
  • Spatterdock thrives in slow-moving water, providing a habitat for various fish and wildlife.
  • spatterdock lily

Examples

  • Among these are white water lily, water shield, and bullhead lily (spatterdock).

    Academic text (1998)

  • The pond was filled with spatterdock, its rounded yellow flowers shining in the sunlight.

  • We paddled through the calm waters, surrounded by lush patches of spatterdock and lily pads.

Synonyms

Nuphar advena
vsspatterdock
  • Specialized
9.9

A water lily with broad leaves and round yellow flowers that grows in slow freshwater ponds

is the common everyday name used for that same species
yellow pond lily
vsspatterdock
  • US
7.2

A water plant with broad leaves and round yellow flowers that floats on calm water

is another common name used for the same plant in the region
cow lily
vsspatterdock
  • US
9.1

A water plant with broad floating leaves and round yellow flowers that grows in quiet ponds

is a different common name referring to the same regional plant
pond lily
vsspatterdock
3.5

A water plant with large round leaves that float on ponds and showy flowers

is narrower naming a specific yellow species in eastern and central North America

Compounds

southern spatterdock
  • US
9.1

A water plant in the southeastern United States with large floating leaves that forms dense mats in streams

Surface Forms

spatterdock singular
spatterdocks plural

Etymology

Spatterdock comes from two simple parts: spatter ('to splash') and dock ('a plant'), so the name makes you think of yellow flowers and round leaves like splashes on a pond. That's why spatterdock is used for the common water lily you see in slow-moving water.