Christmas berry
- noun
- /ˈkrɪs·məs ˈbɛr.i/
:
baya de Navidad
- 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
An evergreen shrub with bright red berries used to decorate gardens
A small shrub from East and South Asia with glossy leaves and bright red berries, often grown for its looks
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'.
