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early morel

early morel

8.8
A small edible mushroom that appears in early spring with a wrinkled, thimble-shaped cap running down the stem
  • noun
  • /ˈɜrli məˈrɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : morilla temprana
  • The early morel is often found along riverbanks before most trees have leafed out.

Examples

  • She was delighted to spot an early morel while walking in the woods in late March.

  • Foragers treasure the early morel for its delicate flavor and distinctive shape.

  • I found an early morel in the woods yesterday.

  • Have you ever tasted an early morel?

  • Foragers treasure the early morel for its delicate flavor and distinctive shape.

  • She was delighted to spot an early morel while walking in the woods in late March.

  • The early morel is often found along riverbanks before most trees have leafed out.

Synonyms

Verpa bohemica
vsearly morel
  • Specialized
9.9

An edible wild mushroom with a wrinkled thimble-like cap that appears in early spring

is the everyday common name used in informal or culinary contexts

How Flavorful

early morel
  • Specialized
8.8
shiitake
10 5.8
portobello
3 3.0
cremini
1 5.5

Surface Forms

early morel singular
early morels plural

Morphology

early + morel

The noun phrase is a straightforward modifier + noun composition: 'early' specifies the time of occurrence and 'morel' names the mushroom, so the meaning 'a morel that appears early (in the season)' is directly derivable from the parts. This pattern (temporal adjective + noun) is cross-linguistically common and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Early morel gets its name from when and how it grows: this mushroom appears very early in spring, before most trees have leaves. Its wrinkled, thimble-shaped cap makes the morel easy to spot, and the word early helps you remember it is a tasty, edible mushroom you find at the start of the season.