common bird cherry

9.2

A small European tree with clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers and black fruit eaten by birds

noun

: cerezo de pájaro común

In spring, the common bird cherry attracts many pollinators with its fragrant white blossoms.

Examples

The common bird cherry is often planted in parks for its ornamental flowers and shade.
Berries from the common bird cherry are a favorite food for local birds in rural Europe.
The common bird cherry blooms beautifully in spring.
I saw a common bird cherry tree in the park.
In spring, the common bird cherry attracts many pollinators with its fragrant white blossoms.
Berries from the common bird cherry are a favorite food for local birds in rural Europe.
The common bird cherry is often planted in parks for its ornamental flowers and shade.

Synonyms

European bird cherry

vscommon bird cherry

7.9

A small European tree that has groups of white flowers and small black fruit

emphasizes fragrant flowers rather than only plain white blooms

Prunus padus

vscommon bird cherry

Specialized

9.9

A small European tree with clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers and small bitter black cherries

is the common name form rather than the scientific species label

hagberry tree

vscommon bird cherry

Archaic

9.9

A small European cherry tree with clusters of dark berries

focuses on fragrant white flower clusters rather than berry appearance

hagberry

vscommon bird cherry

Archaic

9.9

A small wild tree with dark cherries that birds eat

identifies the same tree by its fragrant flowers and specific resemblance

bird cherry

vscommon bird cherry

7.9

A small wild cherry tree with red or black fruit that birds often eat

is narrower, describing the specific European species with fragrant white flowers

bird cherry tree

vscommon bird cherry

7.2

A small cherry tree with small berries that birds eat

focuses on botanical features like fragrant flowers and resemblance to chokecherry

Surface Forms

common bird cherry singular

common bird cherries plural

Morphology

common + bird + cherry

The noun phrase is compositional: 'cherry' names the tree, 'bird' signals an association (a cherry related to or eaten by birds), and 'common' indicates it is widespread. A B1 learner who knows these words can readily infer it denotes a kind of cherry tree, so the meaning is derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Common bird cherry gets its name from the small black fruits that many birds eat, and the parts bird and cherry show that 'birds' eat the 'cherries', while common means the tree is found in many places. That's why the name describes a small tree whose berries feed birds.