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Glite Dictionary
elephant's-foot

elephant's-foot

9.9
A plant that grows in different regions, often with blue or purple flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈɛlɪfənts fʊt/
  • US
translation icon : pie de elefante
  • She collected a specimen of elephant's-foot to study its purple flowers.

Examples

  • The elephant's-foot plant is often found in tropical regions.

  • Did you see the beautiful elephant's-foot flowers in the garden?

  • Many wild areas in the southern US are home to elephant's-foot.

  • She collected a specimen of elephant's-foot to study its purple flowers.

  • The meadow was dotted with elephant's-foot in full bloom.

  • The meadow was dotted with elephant's-foot in full bloom.

  • Did you see the beautiful elephant's-foot flowers in the garden?

Synonyms

Dioscorea elephantipes
vselephant's-foot
  • Specialized
9.9

A South African climbing plant with a large woody base that looks like a turtle shell

is a broader name used for different species in various regions
Hottentot bread vine
vselephant's-foot
  • NSFW
9.9

A climbing plant from South Africa with a large rough root like an elephant's foot

is the general term applied to different plants in other places
tortoise plant
vselephant's-foot
  • South African
9.9

A climbing plant from South Africa with a large woody root and rough cracked bark

is a wider name sometimes used for this kind of vine or other plants
Elephantopus
vselephant's-foot
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of plants from the Americas with wide leaves at the base and small flower heads

is a broader name that can also mean different South African vine species
lily of the Nile
vselephant's-foot
6.8

A garden plant with round groups of blue or purple flowers

is a regional name sometimes used for a blue or purple flowering plant

Surface Forms

elephant's-foot singular
elephant's-feet plural

Morphology

elephant's-foot = elephant + foot (semi-transparent) = elephant + foot

The components 'elephant' and 'foot' are clearly visible, but the compound names a plant by resemblance rather than literally an elephant's foot, making the referent specialized.

Etymology

Elephant's-foot comes from the plant's look. It has a 'large, rough base' that reminds people of an elephant's foot, so different plants with a similar thick root or stem in many places are called elephant's-foot.