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Glite Dictionary
Sunflower State

Sunflower State

2.9
A nickname for the state of Kansas because many sunflowers grow there
  • proper noun
  • /ˈsʌnˌflaʊər steɪt/
translation icon : Estado del Girasol
  • Kansas, often referred to as the Sunflower State, is famous for its beautiful fields of sunflowers that bloom in the summer.

Examples

  • You are now entering Kansas, The Sunflower State.

    Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

  • That band emerged from Wichita, Kansas, the largest city in the Sunflower State.

    Blog text (18)

  • Many tourists visit the Sunflower State to see the annual sunflower festival held in various towns across Kansas.

  • The Sunflower State is known for its agricultural contributions, especially the production of sunflowers used for oil.

Synonyms

Kansas
vsSunflower State
603 1.0

A state in the middle of the United States with Topeka as its capital

is an informal nickname that highlights the region's abundance of sunflowers

Surface Forms

Sunflower State main

Morphology

sunflower + state

The nickname 'Sunflower State' is a straightforward composition of 'sunflower' (a plant) and 'state' (a political region), signalling a state known for sunflowers; a learner who knows both words can readily infer this descriptive meaning. This kind of place nickname is compositional and common cross-linguistically, so it is immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Sunflower State comes from the many wild sunflowers that grow across Kansas and because the sunflower is the state's official flower. So, calling Kansas the Sunflower State means the state is 'known for' its sunflowers.