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Glite Dictionary
box family

box family

9.3
A group of evergreen shrubs and small trees with glossy leaves, including boxwood, found worldwide
  • noun
  • /bɑks ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia de los box
  • The box family includes both shrubs and small trees found worldwide.

Examples

  • Several species in the box family are popular in formal garden designs.

  • Many plants in the box family have small, glossy leaves and dense growth patterns.

  • The box family includes many popular ornamental plants.

  • Did you know that the box family has over 70 species?

  • Many plants in the box family have small, glossy leaves and dense growth patterns.

  • Several species in the box family are popular in formal garden designs.

  • The box family includes both shrubs and small trees found worldwide.

Synonyms

Buxaceae
vsbox family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of evergreen bushes and small trees, for example boxwoods

is the common name form that refers to the same plant family
family Buxaceae
vsbox family
  • Specialized
9.4

A group of evergreen shrubs and small trees like boxwood

focuses more narrowly on the family by highlighting its main member

Surface Forms

box family singular
box families plural

Morphology

box + family

The meaning 'a family of box (Buxus) plants' is directly and transparently composed from 'box' (the shrub/boxwood) and 'family' (a taxonomic grouping). This noun+noun botanical compounding follows common compositional patterns and is contextually clear, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name box family comes from the small evergreen trees called box or boxwood, whose hard wood was often used to make little wooden boxes and carved objects. So the name was given to the whole group, and box family now means the plant family of those 'box' plants.