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Glite Dictionary
Vitis labrusca

Vitis labrusca

9.9
A grape vine from the northeastern United States used to make Concord grapes
  • noun
  • /ˈvaɪtɪs ləˈbrʌskə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Vitis labrusca
  • Farmers in the northeastern United States cultivate Vitis labrusca for its rich flavor.
  • American Vitis labrusca

Examples

  • The Vitis labrusca grape is popular for making jelly.

  • The juice from Vitis labrusca is commonly used to make Concord grape jelly.

  • Many American vineyards cultivate Vitis labrusca for its unique flavor profile.

  • Researchers are studying Vitis labrusca for its resistance to certain plant diseases.

  • Many wines are made from Vitis labrusca grapes.

  • Vitis labrusca is a popular choice for making sweet wines like Concord.

  • The unique taste of Vitis labrusca grapes makes them ideal for jam and jelly production.

Synonyms

fox grape
vsVitis labrusca
  • Specialized
8.2

A wild grape native to eastern North America with dark purple fruit used for jams and juices

is the scientific name used in formal biological naming rather than the common term

Surface Forms

Vitis labrusca singular
Vitis labrusca plural

Morphology

Vitis + labrusca

The element 'Vitis' clearly signals a grape/vine genus, so a learner who knows that could infer the phrase refers to a kind of grape. However, 'labrusca' is a Latin specific epithet with no transparent English meaning and does not reveal the species' origin or common cultivar (e.g., Concord). Because the genus part is informative but the specific epithet is arbitrary and noncompositional, the expression is only partially predictable.

Etymology

The scientific name Vitis labrusca is a memory hint: Vitis means 'vine' and labrusca may come from a word for 'fox-like', because these wild American grapes have a strong, fruity smell. So the name tells us this is a North American grape vine that gave us types like Concord grapes.