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willow aster

willow aster

9.4
A flowering plant with narrow willow-like leaves and pale violet flowers
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : aster sauce
  • The willow aster is a hardy perennial found in prairies and along roadsides.

Examples

  • She planted willow aster to attract butterflies to her garden.

  • In late summer, the willow aster produces delicate purple blooms.

  • The willow aster blooms beautifully in the fall.

  • I planted some willow asters in my garden this spring.

  • In late summer, the willow aster produces delicate purple blooms.

  • She planted willow aster to attract butterflies to her garden.

  • The willow aster is a hardy perennial found in prairies and along roadsides.

Surface Forms

willow aster singular
willow asters plural

Morphology

willow + aster

The name describes an aster that has willow-like characteristics, so its meaning ('an aster with narrow, willow-like leaves') follows directly from combining 'willow' and 'aster'. This kind of descriptive compound noun is compositionally transparent and predictable across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Willow aster is a compound name that helps you picture the plant: its narrow leaves look like a willow and its small purple flowers are typical aster blooms. So the name simply means an 'aster' with 'willow'-like leaves.