American rock brake
- noun
- Specialized
:
helecho americano
- The American rock brake is often found in dense tufts on northern North American mountains.
Examples
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The delicate fronds of the American rock brake look remarkably similar to parsley.
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The shady hillside was covered in clusters of American rock brake.
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Botanists identified the unusual fern as an American rock brake during their field study.
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The American rock brake thrives in rocky environments.
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Many gardeners appreciate the American rock brake for its unique appearance.
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During their hike, they spotted clusters of American rock brake growing on the rocky cliffside.
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With its parsley-like fronds, the American rock brake adds a unique touch to many gardens.
Synonyms
A small fern that grows in clumps on rocks with leaves like parsley
A fern that grows in rocky places in northern North America with leaves like parsley
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built: 'brake' (a patch of ferns) modified by 'rock' (indicating it grows on rocks) and 'American' (indicating geographic origin), so the overall sense 'a fern/patch of ferns on rocks in America' follows directly from the constituents. This follows regular English noun-modification patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the meanings of the individual words would be able to infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
American rock brake may come from three simple images: American for where it lives, rock because it grows on rocky places, and brake, an old word for a 'fern'. So the name means a North American fern that grows on rocks and has leaves that look like parsley.
