tumble grass

9.4

A wild grass with thin brush-like seed heads that grows in fields

noun

: hierba bruja

The farmer spent hours pulling tumble grass from his wheat field.

Examples

Researchers studied how tumble grass affects soil quality in agricultural areas.
In dry seasons, tumble grass can quickly take over abandoned lots.
I found some tumble grass in my garden.
The tumble grass swayed gently in the breeze.
In dry seasons, tumble grass can quickly take over abandoned lots.
The farmer spent hours pulling tumble grass from his wheat field.
Researchers studied how tumble grass affects soil quality in agricultural areas.

Synonyms

old witchgrass

vstumble grass

9.9

A common North American grass with thin, brush-like groups of flowers that grows as a weed in fields

is written as two separate words instead

old witch grass

vstumble grass

9.6

A North American grass with thin, brush-like flower heads that often grows as a weed

is written as a single word instead

Panicum capillare

vstumble grass

Specialized

9.9

A North American grass with thin, brushy flower clusters that often grows as a weed in fields

is the common English name used in everyday speech

Surface Forms

tumble grass singular

tumble grasses plural

Morphology

tumble + grass

The noun is compositionally built from 'tumble' (to fall or roll) + 'grass' (a plant), so the meaning as a type of grass that tumbles or is easily rolled/moved by wind is directly inferable. This follows normal English compounding and parallels like 'tumbleweed', so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably understand it.

Etymology

The plant called tumble grass is named for what it does: when dry, the whole grass breaks off and tumbles across fields in the wind, carrying seeds as it goes. That's why the name refers to a grass that 'tumbles' and often acts like a 'weed' in farms and open lots.