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Glite Dictionary
Ficus carica

Ficus carica

8.6
A small Mediterranean tree that produces sweet edible figs
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪkəs ˈkɛrɪkə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Ficus carica
  • The Ficus carica is known for producing sweet, nutritious figs enjoyed around the world.

Examples

  • Farmers in southern Europe grow Ficus carica in both orchards and private gardens.

  • I planted a Ficus carica in my garden.

  • Botanists often study the Ficus carica for its unique pollination process and fruit development.

  • The Ficus carica is known for its sweet figs.

  • In many Mediterranean countries, the Ficus carica thrives in warm climates, producing delicious figs.

  • The Ficus carica tree can grow up to ten meters tall and is often found in home gardens.

  • Many people love to eat fresh figs from the Ficus carica, especially during the late summer harvest.

Synonyms

fig
vsFicus carica
21 1.3

A tree from the Mediterranean grown for its sweet fruit

specifies the exact species rather than just a regional native
fig tree
vsFicus carica
8 1.3

A tree that grows sweet pear-shaped fruit you can eat

is limited to the single Mediterranean species rather than the whole genus
common fig tree
vsFicus carica
2.8

A Mediterranean tree that makes sweet edible figs

is the formal scientific species name for that same tree
common fig
vsFicus carica
3.1

A tree from warm regions that grows small sweet fruit eaten fresh or dried

focuses on the species identity rather than fruit taste

Surface Forms

Ficus carica singular
Ficus caricas plural

Morphology

Ficus + carica

This is a Latin scientific name: 'Ficus' signals the plant genus (so a learner who knows that could infer it denotes a type of fig/tree), but 'carica' is not an ordinary English word and does not transparently convey the specific sense 'edible fig tree'. The binomial form gives partial information (species-of-Ficus) but does not allow a B1 learner to derive the full everyday meaning, so the transparency is only partial.

Etymology

Ficus carica gets its name from Latin: Ficus means 'fig' and carica points to Caria, a region where the tree grew long ago. So the name simply means 'fig from Caria' and explains why it names the species that makes sweet fruit you can eat.