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Glite Dictionary
Euphorbia exigua

Euphorbia exigua

9.9
A small annual plant from Europe that often grows as a weed and sometimes shows up in northeastern United States
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : euphorbia exigua
  • The fields were dotted with Euphorbia exigua, thriving among the taller grasses.

Examples

  • I found a patch of Euphorbia exigua in my garden.

  • The Euphorbia exigua is often mistaken for other weeds.

  • Some gardeners consider Euphorbia exigua to be an invasive weed in their flower beds.

  • While hiking, she identified several rare plants, including Euphorbia exigua.

  • Some gardeners consider Euphorbia exigua to be an invasive weed in their flower beds.

  • The fields were dotted with Euphorbia exigua, thriving among the taller grasses.

  • While hiking, she identified several rare plants, including Euphorbia exigua.

Synonyms

dwarf spurge
vsEuphorbia exigua
  • Specialized
9.9

A small annual weed with tiny leaves that spreads on the ground

is a specific species sometimes recorded in the northeastern United States

Surface Forms

Euphorbia exigua singular
Euphorbia exiguas plural

Morphology

Euphorbia + exigua

This is a scientific binomial: 'Euphorbia' names a plant genus, so a learner who recognises that could infer the MWE refers to a plant species; if they also knew the epithet 'exigua' (Latin-root meaning 'small') they could further infer it denotes a small species. However, species epithets are technical/Latin and not standard English vocabulary, so the name is only partially predictable to a B1 learner and not fully transparent.

Etymology

Euphorbia exigua may come from a doctor's name and a Latin word. The genus Euphorbia was named for a doctor called Euphorbus, and exigua means 'small', so the name describes a small spurge and fits this tiny weed.