common box

6.3

A small evergreen bush with dense leaves often used for hedges and garden shapes

noun

: boj común

They trimmed the common box hedges every spring to keep them tidy.

Examples

The common box is a popular choice for shaping into decorative garden features.
I planted several common boxes around my patio.
Many historical gardens are bordered by thick common box shrubs.
The common box is perfect for creating garden borders.
Many historical gardens are bordered by thick common box shrubs.
The common box is a popular choice for shaping into decorative garden features.
They trimmed the common box hedges every spring to keep them tidy.

Synonyms

box

vscommon box

33 7.3

A small evergreen shrub with thick leaves often used for hedges

is the specific species within that genus used for hedges and borders

boxwood

vscommon box

3 6.2

An evergreen shrub or small tree with small glossy leaves often grown as a hedge

is about the living species used for hedges rather than its wood

Buxus sempervirens

vscommon box

Specialized

9.1

An evergreen shrub or small tree gardeners use for hedges and neat garden shapes

is the everyday name for the same species used in hedges

European box

vscommon box

7.5

A slow-growing evergreen bush or small tree used for hedges and neat shapes

is the standard common name for that same plant species

Surface Forms

common box singular

common boxes plural

Morphology

common + box

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun naming pattern: 'common' (widespread/ordinary) modifying 'box' (the box shrub). A B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer it refers to the ordinary/widespread species of box used for hedges, since this compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically.

Etymology

Common box gets its name from its hard wood: people used the wood of the box tree to make small 'boxes' long ago, so the plant became known as a 'box' shrub. That's why common box today means the familiar shrub used for garden hedges and shapes.