Skip to main content
genus Prunus

genus Prunus

7.7
A group of trees and bushes that includes cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and almonds
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈpruːnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Prunus
  • The genus Prunus includes many well-known fruit trees such as cherries and plums.

Examples

  • Almonds are actually part of the genus Prunus along with peaches and apricots.

  • Botanists study the genus Prunus to understand the diversity of stone fruits.

  • The genus Prunus includes many fruit-bearing plants.

  • Many species in the genus Prunus are cultivated for their fruits.

  • Almonds are actually part of the genus Prunus along with peaches and apricots.

  • The genus Prunus includes many well-known fruit trees such as cherries and plums.

  • Many species in the genus Prunus are cultivated for their fruits.

Synonyms

Prunus
vsgenus Prunus
  • Specialized
7.6

A group of small trees and bushes that includes plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds

has the same meaning and the same scientific usage

Surface Forms

genus Prunus singular
genera Prunus plural

Morphology

genus + Prunus

The phrase is a straightforward taxonomic combination: 'genus' (a biological rank) applied to the name 'Prunus' yields 'the group of related species called Prunus.' This is compositional and follows a common cross-linguistic pattern (genus + taxon name), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE meaning, although it is technical vocabulary.

Etymology

Genus Prunus comes from Latin because Prunus was an old word for a 'plum' tree. Plant scientists used genus to mean a 'group' of related plants and added Prunus because this group includes plums, cherries, peaches and almonds, so the name shows what kinds of plants are in it.