Christmas berry
- noun
- /ˈkrɪs·məs ˈbɛr.i/
- Pollinators are drawn to the blue or mauve flowers of the Christmas berry each spring.
Examples
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The Christmas berry adds a festive touch to any garden.
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The Christmas berry produces clusters of red fruit that persist through the winter.
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Gardeners in the Southeast often plant Christmas berry shrubs for their attractive appearance.
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I love the bright red of Christmas berries during the winter.
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The garden was brightened by the vibrant red berries of the Christmas berry shrub.
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During the holidays, many people decorate their homes with branches of Christmas berry for a festive look.
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In winter, the Christmas berry is popular for adding color to landscaping with its evergreen leaves and bright berries.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small shrub from East and South Asia with glossy leaves and bright red berries, often grown for its looks
An evergreen shrub with bright red berries used to decorate gardens
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is compositionally derived: 'Christmas' modifies 'berry' to indicate a berry associated with the Christmas season (festive, decorative red berries). This modifier+noun pattern is transparent and common, so a B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer the MWE refers to a decorative plant with red berries.
Etymology
Christmas berry likely comes from the bright red berries that stay on the bush at Christmas, so people often used the plant as a simple decoration. That's why the name now means 'an ornamental shrub with red berries'.