Skip to main content
coffee blight

coffee blight

6.3
A disease of coffee plants caused by fungi or bacteria that reduces the amount and quality of beans
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːfi blaɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plaga del café
  • The outbreak of coffee blight devastated plantations across Central America, threatening farmers' livelihoods.

Examples

  • Scientists are racing to develop coffee varieties resistant to coffee blight.

  • Losses caused by coffee blight have led to increased global coffee prices.

  • Farmers are worried about coffee blight this season.

  • The coffee blight has devastated many plantations.

  • The outbreak of coffee blight devastated plantations across Central America, threatening farmers' livelihoods.

  • Scientists are racing to develop coffee varieties resistant to coffee blight.

  • Losses caused by coffee blight have led to increased global coffee prices.

Synonyms

blight
vscoffee blight
  • Specialized
7 7.3

A plant disease that makes leaves and stems die without rotting

affects one crop in particular and lowers bean yield and quality

How Severe

epidemic
300 4.6
stem blight
  • Specialized
6.9
coffee blight
  • Specialized
6.3
blight
  • Specialized
7 7.3

Surface Forms

coffee blight singular

Morphology

coffee + blight

The meaning 'a disease affecting coffee plants' is directly derivable from combining 'coffee' (the plant/product) with 'blight' (a plant disease). This noun+noun compound follows a common compositional pattern (disease of X) that is cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Coffee blight uses blight, a word farmers used for a fast, spreading plant disease that makes leaves go brown and plants die. That's why coffee blight today means 'a disease that harms coffee plants and lowers the harvest'.