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Glite Dictionary
water fern

water fern

4.0
A plant that grows in water or very wet places
  • noun
  • /ˈwɔːtər fɜrn/
translation icon : helecho acuático
  • The aquarium was decorated with lush water fern to create a natural habitat for the fish.

Examples

  • Some species of water fern can help purify water by absorbing excess nutrients.

  • We spotted a rare water fern growing along the edge of the pond during our hike.

  • The water fern floated gracefully on the pond's surface.

  • Many water ferns thrive in aquatic environments.

  • The aquarium was decorated with lush water fern to create a natural habitat for the fish.

  • We spotted a rare water fern growing along the edge of the pond during our hike.

  • Many water ferns thrive in aquatic environments.

Synonyms

fern
vswater fern
54 1.3

A plant with feathery leaves that has no flowers and makes spores

grows specifically in very wet places rather than in all typical plant habitats
aquatic fern
vswater fern
6.0

A fern that grows in water or very wet places

is the general common name used for this group of wet growing plants
marsh fern
vswater fern
  • Specialized
7.0

A fern with deeply divided leaves that grows in wet places like marshes

is found in very wet places across many climates, not only temperate lowlands
Pilularia globulifera
vswater fern
  • Specialized
9.9

A small water fern that grows at the edges of ponds and has tiny round parts that hold spores

is a broader name for similar plants not limited to Europe or acid soils
water clover
vswater fern
  • Specialized
7.5

A small water plant with leaves made of four clover-like parts that float

is used for many wet growing plants and lacks that specific leaf pattern
water sprite
vswater fern
8.2

A plant with feathery green leaves that grows in aquariums

is found in very wet places but not limited to tropical aquarium use
mosquito fern
vswater fern
  • US
8.9

A small fern that floats on water in ponds and tanks

is the general term covering larger groups beyond this small native species
floating fern
vswater fern
6.0

A plant that floats on the surface of water, often used in aquariums and ponds

usually grows submerged or on wet ground rather than resting on the surface
floating-moss
vswater fern
9.5

A small water plant that floats on the surface of ponds and slow streams

can grow attached or submerged in very wet places rather than drifting

Surface Forms

water fern singular
water ferns plural

Morphology

water + fern

The meaning 'a fern that grows in water or very wet areas' is directly and compositionally derived from 'water' (specifying habitat) + 'fern' (the plant); 'water' functions as an attributive modifier indicating type. This straightforward noun+noun compound for habitat is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Water fern comes from a simple picture: a fern that grows in water, often floating in ponds or living at the edge of wet places. That's why the name means 'a type of fern that grows in water or very wet areas'.