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curly pondweed

curly pondweed

9.5
A water plant with wavy leaves that grows in lakes and ponds
  • noun
  • /ˈkɜrli ˈpɒndˌwid/
  • UK
translation icon : hierba de charca rizada
  • The aquarium was cleaned, and the curly pondweed thrived in the fresh water.

Examples

  • The curly pondweed grows abundantly in the lake.

  • We found curly pondweed growing abundantly along the shallow edges of the lake.

  • Scientists studied the spread of curly pondweed in various American rivers.

  • We found some curly pondweeds near the riverbank.

  • In many lakes, curly pondweed grows abundantly, making it difficult for other aquatic plants to thrive.

  • While hiking by the river, I noticed the shimmering green leaves of curly pondweed floating on the water's surface.

  • The presence of curly pondweed in the pond indicates a healthy aquatic environment, but it can also become overwhelming if not controlled.

Synonyms

pondweed
vscurly pondweed
1 6.8

A water plant that grows in ponds and lakes with long or floating leaves

is a specific European species rather than the general freshwater group
Potamogeton crispus
vscurly pondweed
  • Specialized
9.9

A water plant with curly leaves that grows in ponds and slow streams

is the common everyday name used instead of the scientific term
curled leaf pondweed
vscurly pondweed
  • Specialized
9.9

A water plant with long curly leaves that grow under water in ponds and lakes

refers to the same plant but uses a different common name variant

Surface Forms

Morphology

curly + pondweed

The noun phrase is a direct adjective + noun composition: 'curly' (having wavy or curled edges) modifies 'pondweed' (an aquatic plant), so the meaning 'a pondweed with wavy-edged leaves' is transparently derived from the parts. This descriptive, literal naming follows normal adjective–noun patterns and would be readily inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Curly pondweed gets its name from how the plant looks and where it grows: its leaves are wavy, so curly, and it lives in a pond, while weed shows it is a spreading water plant often called a 'weed' because it can be hard to remove. So the name describes a water plant with wavy leaves.