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Pacific yew

Pacific yew

8.1
A small evergreen tree from the west coast valued for its hard, fine wood
  • noun
  • /pəˈsɪfɪk ju/
  • US
translation icon : tejo del Pacífico
  • It is obscure primarily because it is microscopic, has an unusual habitat, and, unlike the Pacific yew, is not endangered.
  • Pacific yew tree

Examples

  • One notable example is the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia).

    Academic text (1996)
  • There is another species, however, that has transformed the human world far more than the Pacific yew but without receiving nearly as much attention.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The Pacific yew tree created it.

    Blog text (14)
  • "Taxol is a complex compound found in the bark of the Pacific yew tree."

    Blog text (5)
  • Before the discovery of taxol, however, loggers had indiscriminately cut down and burned Pacific yews to gain access to more profitable timber.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The Pacific yew tree is known for its fine hard wood, which is highly valued in furniture making.

  • Many scientists study the Pacific yew to understand its unique properties and environmental benefits.

  • In the Pacific Northwest, the Pacific yew tree thrives in cool, damp forests along the coast.

Synonyms

Taxus brevifolia
vsPacific yew
  • Specialized
9.9

A yew tree from the Pacific coast of North America with uneven branches and dark green leaves

is the common name used for that same tree
western yew
vsPacific yew
  • US
9.8

A small or medium tree with hard wood that grows on the Pacific coast of North America

is the standard common name without regional emphasis
California yew
vsPacific yew
  • Specialized
9.9

A small or medium tree that grows on the Pacific coast and has strong, fine-grained wood

is the general common name not tied to one state

Surface Forms

Pacific yew singular
Pacific yews plural

Morphology

Pacific + yew

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Pacific' (relating to the Pacific region) plus 'yew' (a type of tree) yields a yew associated with the Pacific. This geographic modifier + noun pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the intended referent.

Etymology

Pacific yew gets its name from its parts: Pacific shows it grows on the Pacific coast and yew is the type of evergreen tree. So the name simply means 'a yew tree from the Pacific coast' and helps you remember it has strong wood and bark used in medicine.