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Glite Dictionary
gold fern

gold fern

9.9
A fern from the West Indies and South America with bright yellow undersides on its fronds
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : helecho dorado
  • The gold fern is known for its stunning golden-yellow undersides that catch the eye in tropical gardens.

Examples

  • Botanists studied the unique coloration of the gold fern found in South American rainforests.

  • The gold fern added a vibrant touch to the greenhouse with its luminous yellow fronds.

  • She collected a specimen of gold fern during her research trip to the Caribbean.

  • The gold fern thrives in tropical climates.

  • I saw a beautiful gold fern in the garden.

  • During her field study, she observed how the gold fern flourished in the humid climate of the West Indies.

  • The vibrant fronds of the gold fern create a striking contrast against the dark green foliage of other plants.

Synonyms

Pityrogramma chrysophylla
vsgold fern
  • Specialized
9.9

A fern with fronds that have bright golden-yellow undersides from tropical America

is the common descriptive name rather than the formal species name
golden fern
vsgold fern
  • US
9.4

A fern from warm places with golden leaves that people grow for decoration

focuses specifically on bright golden-yellow undersides rather than general golden tones

Surface Forms

gold fern singular
gold ferns plural

Morphology

gold + fern

The meaning (a fern with bright golden-yellow undersides) is directly compositional from 'gold' (a deep yellow color) modifying 'fern' (a plant), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a fern that is golden or has golden parts. This color + noun compound is a common, cross-linguistic descriptive pattern, making the expression immediately understandable.

Etymology

Gold fern gets its name from how it looks: the plant has bright, 'golden-yellow' undersides on its leaves. So gold names the color and fern the plant, meaning 'a fern with golden leaves'.