Skip to main content
water-shield

water-shield

8.7
A water plant with round floating leaves and small flowers found in ponds and lakes
  • noun
translation icon : escudo de agua
  • During our nature walk, we spotted a water-shield thriving in the clear waters of the lake.

Examples

  • The pond was covered in green leaves from the water-shield, creating a beautiful reflection on the surface.

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

    Academic text (1998)
  • Aquariums often feature water-shield because its floating leaves provide shade for smaller fish.

Synonyms

Brasenia
vswater-shield
  • Specialized
9.9

A small water plant with round leaves that float and often have a jelly coating

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific group name
Brasenia schreberi
vswater-shield
  • Specialized
9.9

A water plant with floating oval leaves and purple flowers

is a broader name for similar plants found in ponds lakes or aquariums
water-target
vswater-shield
9.9

A water plant with floating oval leaves and purple flowers

covers ponds as well as lakes and aquariums and has a broader habitat range

How Big

lotus
10 4.2
water lily
4 1.9
water-shield
8.7
duckweed
  • Specialized
1 8.3

Surface Forms

water-shield singular
water-shields plural
water shields plural
water shield singular

Morphology

water-shield = water + shield (semi-transparent) = water + shield

The components 'water' and 'shield' are transparent, but the compound denotes a specific aquatic plant (a lexicalized, metaphorical name) not directly inferable as a plant by all learners.

Etymology

Water-shield comes from the simple parts water and shield. Its round leaves float like little 'shields' on the water and seem to protect the plant, which is why the name refers to a water plant with floating leaves and flowers.