cord grass
- noun
- /kɔrd ɡræs/
- Specialized
:
hierba de cordón
- The cord grass along the shoreline helps prevent soil erosion during storms.
Examples
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The cord grass grows near the shore.
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Scientists studied the growth patterns of cord grass in rehabilitated wetlands.
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Cord grass plays a crucial role in protecting shorelines from erosion.
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The marsh was dominated by tall cord grass swaying in the breeze.
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Many birds nest in cord grasses along the coast.
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In coastal wetlands, cord grass plays a vital role in stabilizing the soil and providing habitat for wildlife.
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Researchers have studied how cord grass can improve water quality in estuarine environments.
Synonyms
1
8.9
A tall grass that grows in coastal marshes and helps stop erosion
A group of grasses that grow in freshwater swamps and salt marshes
Surface Forms
Morphology
cord + grass
The phrase names a specific type of plant (Spartina) so a learner who knows 'grass' can infer it is a kind of grass, but the precise referent (coastal perennial species and its ecological role) and the sense of 'cord' are not predictable from the parts. Because the constituent meanings do provide partial information (a kind of grass) but not the full, specific meaning, this item is best classified as semi-transparent.
Etymology
Cord grass may come from its long, strong stems that look like a cord or rope. Those stems and tough roots hold the mud together like cords, so the plant helps keep the soil in place and protect the shore.