Alpine fir
- noun
- /ˈælpaɪn fɪr/
- US
:
abeto de las Montañas Rocosas
- The narrow crown of the Alpine fir distinguishes it from other conifers in the region.
Examples
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We used wood from an Alpine fir to build the new fence.
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The Alpine fir can be found at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains.
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The Alpine fir is known for its tall stature.
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Many Alpine firs grow in the Rocky Mountains.
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The hikers paused to admire the beautiful alpine firs that lined the trail.
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In the Rocky Mountains, the majestic alpine fir provides shelter for many wildlife species.
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We decided to plant an alpine fir in our garden because of its elegant shape and evergreen foliage.
Synonyms
A medium-tall evergreen tree that grows high in western North America with a narrow upright crown
A medium to tall evergreen tree that grows high in the Rocky Mountains
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is an ordinary adjective + noun combination where 'alpine' (of high mountain regions) modifies 'fir' (a type of evergreen tree), so the meaning 'a fir that grows in alpine/high-mountain areas' is directly recoverable from the parts. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows regular English noun phrase formation, making it immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
The noun Alpine fir comes from the picture of a fir tree on high mountains. Alpine means 'high mountain' and fir is an evergreen tree, so the name describes a tall evergreen that grows on the higher parts of mountains.
