golden seal
1
8.4
- noun
- /ˈɡoʊldən siːl/
- Specialized
:
sello dorado
- The golden seal is known for its medicinal properties.
Examples
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Many herbalists recommend golden seal for treating infections.
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The herbalist suggested using golden seal for its medicinal properties.
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Many herbalists recommend golden seal to support immune health.
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The root of golden seal is often used to make tinctures and extracts.
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Wild populations of golden seal are at risk due to overharvesting.
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I have read that golden seal can help with digestive issues.
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Many people take golden seal as a natural remedy for colds.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A plant that lives for many years with thick yellow roots used in herbal medicine
A woodland plant with a thick yellow root used in traditional medicine
A plant that lives many years with a thick knotted yellow underground stem and large rounded leaves
A thick bright yellow root used as a spice and traditional medicine
Surface Forms
Morphology
golden + seal
Although 'golden' clearly denotes a gold-like color, the constituent 'seal' (given no plant-related sense) would normally be interpreted as an animal or a closure/stamp, so a B1 learner who knows those common senses would not infer 'a perennial herb' from the parts. 'Golden seal' is the conventional name of a specific plant (often written 'goldenseal'), so its botanical meaning is lexicalized and not transparently compositional from the familiar senses of its constituents.
Etymology
Golden seal may come from its thick, bright yellow root — the golden — and from the old idea that the root could 'seal' or heal cuts like a small stamp, the seal. That's why the plant's name links its yellow color and its use as a healing herb.