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Glite Dictionary
common beech

common beech

4.2
A large European tree with smooth grey bark and bright autumn leaves that people plant for shade in parks
  • noun
translation icon : haya común
  • The common beech is prized for its smooth grey bark and stately appearance in parks.

Examples

  • We planted a common beech in our garden for its beautiful autumn foliage.

  • Many North American landscapes feature the common beech as a shade tree.

  • Look at that common beech!

  • The common beech is known for its beautiful foliage.

  • Many North American landscapes feature the common beech as a shade tree.

  • The common beech is prized for its smooth grey bark and stately appearance in parks.

  • We planted a common beech in our garden for its beautiful autumn foliage.

Synonyms

Fagus sylvatica
vscommon beech
  • Specialized
9.9

A large European tree often planted in parks with smooth gray bark and leaves with small teeth

is the everyday common name rather than the formal scientific label
European beech
vscommon beech
6.1

A large tree that loses its leaves in winter with smooth gray bark and small toothed leaves

focuses on leaf edges without stressing bark or microscopic teeth

Surface Forms

common beech singular
common beeches plural

Morphology

common + beech

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'common' (widespread/ordinary) modifies 'beech' (a type of tree), so the meaning is simply a beech that is common or a common species of beech. This compositional pattern is regular in English and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Common beech: The name common beech comes from the simple idea of a usual beech tree: common means 'ordinary' or 'widely found' and beech is the large tree with smooth grey bark and slightly toothed leaves. Because people often planted this beech in parks and gardens for shade and beauty, the name now points to that familiar, planted tree.