Dutch elm
- noun
- /dʌtʃ ɛlm/
- The Dutch elm is a beautiful tree that provides ample shade during the summer months.
- Dutch elm disease
Examples
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Many parks plant Dutch elms to enhance their landscapes and offer cooling spots for visitors.
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Our town decided to replace the aging trees with new Dutch elms for better resilience against diseases.
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Due to disease resistance, the Dutch elm is a popular choice for urban landscaping.
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Gardeners admire the graceful shape of the Dutch elm in both large parks and small yards.
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The city planted several Dutch elm trees along the boulevard for their broad canopies.
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Look at that stunning Dutch elm in the garden!
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The Dutch elm is known for its beautiful foliage.
Synonyms
A large tree with broad leaves that gives shade
A large tree with broad leaves and strong wood often planted in parks and streets for shade
A hybrid European elm tree grown to give shade and look nice
A tall hybrid elm tree grown for its attractive shape and leaves
A tall elm tree grown for its pretty shape and leaves
A broad, spreading tree with rough leaves that grows naturally in Europe and is often planted in parks
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward adjective + noun (Dutch + elm) where the meaning — an elm tree associated with the Netherlands or a Dutch variety/hybrid — follows directly from the parts. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and not idiomatic, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Dutch elm comes from trees first grown or developed in the Netherlands. The word Dutch ('from the Netherlands') plus elm ('a kind of tree') explains why the name means this particular hybrid elm often planted for shade in parks and streets.