supple willow
- noun
- /ˈsʌpəl ˈwɪloʊ/
:
sauce flexible
- She admired how the supple willow bent gracefully in the wind without breaking.
Examples
-
During the days that the skin was soaking, Ipa sat under the cottonwood tree weaving baskets from supple willow branches, reeds, or nolina leaves.
Fiction book (1995) -
Using supple willow, the artisan crafted a stunning decorative wreath for the festival.
-
The basketmaker searched for supple willow branches to create a beautiful new basket.
Synonyms
A willow with long flexible twigs used for making baskets
A willow with long flexible twigs used for making baskets
A tree with long flexible twigs used for making baskets
A willow tree with long flexible branches that people use for weaving baskets and furniture
Antonyms
How Flexible
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'supple' means flexible and 'willow' names a tree whose branches are often used for weaving, so the meaning 'flexible willow or flexible willow branches' is directly derivable from the parts. This follows standard compositional patterns found across languages, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
The noun supple willow comes from the image of willow branches that bend easily without breaking; the word supple means 'bendy' and the willow is the tree, and basket makers used these soft branches for weaving. That's why supple willow means a willow or branch that is 'flexible' and good for bending into shapes.
