emarginate leaf
- noun
- /ɪˈmɑrdʒɪnɪt liːf/
- Specialized
:
hoja emarginada
- An emarginate leaf is characterized by a distinct, shallow notch at the tip.
Examples
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The botanist pointed out the emarginate leaf on the oak sapling during the field trip.
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An emarginate leaf is easy to recognize because it has a shallow notch at the tip.
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Many species in this genus have at least one emarginate leaf among their foliage.
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Look at that emarginate leaf over there!
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The emarginate leaf of the plant caught my eye.
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During the workshop, we learned that an emarginate leaf is identified by its unique notch at the apex.
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The gardener showed us how to recognize an emarginate leaf by its distinct shape.
How Notched
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'emarginate' means 'having a shallow notch at the tip' and 'leaf' names the plant organ, so 'emarginate leaf' straightforwardly means 'a leaf with a shallow notch at the tip.' This adjective + noun pattern follows normal English composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Emarginate leaf paints a simple picture: emarginate shows a small cut at the edge, so the leaf looks like someone made a tiny V-shaped notch in its tip. Because of that tiny 'notch' at the end, the phrase simply means 'a leaf with a shallow notch at the tip'.