bitter cress
- noun
:
berro amargo
- The herbalist explained that bitter cress is often used in salads for its peppery taste and health benefits.
Examples
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As she walked through the forest, she noticed the delicate bitter cress blooming among the rocks.
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The garden was full of wildflowers, including bitter cress, which added a lovely splash of color.
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Out of the corner of my eye, my mother passes into the undergrowth, ignored of common evening primrose, bitter cress and flax.
Synonyms
A small wild herb with peppery leaves and small white or pink flowers
A small wild plant with white or pink flowers that often grows in wet soil
A small European plant like cress with knotted white roots that grows in damp places
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward adjective + noun compound: a B1 learner who knows 'bitter' and 'cress' will naturally interpret it as a kind of cress that tastes bitter. The meaning is literal and compositional (a bitter-tasting cress), so although the botanical genus name Cardamine is specialized, the basic referent is predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Bitter cress may come from the plant's taste: bitter describes the sharp, peppery taste of the leaves and cress means small leafy plants. So, the name tells you it is a small wild plant with a bitter, peppery taste.
