Zea mays everta
- noun
- /ziːə meɪz ˈɛvərtə/
- Specialized
- The kernels of Zea mays everta burst open to become fluffy popcorn when heated.
Examples
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Zea mays everta kernels are specially grown for making popcorn.
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Scientists study Zea mays everta to understand why its kernels pop when heated.
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Farmers often cultivate Zea mays everta because of its popularity as a snack.
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I love to eat Zea mays everta at the movies.
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Did you know that Zea mays everta is used for popcorn?
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Many people enjoy snacking on popcorn made from Zea mays everta during movie nights.
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Popcorn, which is made from Zea mays everta, is a favorite treat at carnivals and fairs.
Synonyms
A light, fluffy snack from special corn kernels that pop when heated
Surface Forms
Morphology
Zea + mays + everta
This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name rather than a compositional English phrase; its elements ('mays', 'everta') are not common English words and do not transparently signal 'popcorn' to a B1 learner. Taxonomic names function as arbitrary labels across languages, so knowing 'Zea' as a genus does not allow a learner to infer the everyday meaning.
Etymology
Zea mays everta is the plant name for a kind of maize whose kernels burst open into small white puffs when heated, making the food we call 'popcorn'. That's why this name means the maize grown especially to make the 'snack'.