Oregon maple
- noun
- /ˈɔrɪɡən ˈmeɪpəl/
- US
:
arce de Oregón
- The Oregon maple is admired for its vibrant foliage during the autumn months.
Examples
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Many Oregon maples grow in the Pacific Northwest.
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A large Oregon maple shaded the park bench where we sat.
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Many birds build their nests in the branches of the Oregon maple.
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The Oregon maple is a beautiful tree.
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A large Oregon maple shaded the park bench where we sat.
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The Oregon maple is admired for its vibrant foliage during the autumn months.
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Many birds build their nests in the branches of the Oregon maple.
Synonyms
A large western North American tree with very big leaves that have five parts and turn orange in autumn
A large maple tree from western North America with very big leaves that turn orange in autumn
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'Oregon maple' is a straightforward composition of 'Oregon' (a place name) + 'maple' (a tree), so the meaning 'a maple tree associated with Oregon' is directly derivable from its parts. This place-name + noun compound follows common compositional patterns cross-linguistically and contains no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.
Etymology
Oregon maple gets its name because it is a kind of maple that commonly grows in the area called Oregon. Picture a large tree with big leaves that have five parts and turn bright orange in autumn, and that clear image explains why the name means this native maple with showy fall leaves.
