Lombardy poplar
- noun
- /ˈlɑːmbərdi ˈpɑːplər/
:
álamo de Lombardía
- In the autumn, the Lombardy poplars turn a striking golden yellow.
Examples
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The park is lined with tall Lombardy poplars that provide a beautiful view.
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Swaying Lombardy poplars spiraled heavenward.
Fiction book (1993) -
Many gardeners choose Lombardy poplars for their narrow, upright shape in landscaping.
Synonyms
9
4.4
A tall tree with light wood and small hanging flowers that grows in cool areas
2
3.0
A tall tree that grows quickly with light wood and long hanging catkins
A tall narrow tree with branches that grow straight up often used in gardens
A large tree from Europe and western Asia that loses its leaves and has dark bark with triangular leaves
A large tree found in Europe with dark wood and deep furrows in its bark
A group of trees like poplars and aspens that lose their leaves in winter
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward place-name + noun compound: a B1 learner who knows 'Lombardy' (a region in Italy) and 'poplar' (a type of tree) will readily infer it denotes a type or variety of poplar associated with Lombardy. The detailed horticultural traits are additional information, but the basic referent is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so the expression is transparent.
Etymology
Lombardy poplar gets its name from Lombardy in Italy, where people planted rows of tall, narrow poplars that look like thin columns along roads and fields. So the name links the place and the tree, and today Lombardy poplar means 'a tall, narrow poplar' often used to mark roads or stop the wind.