goldilocks aster
- noun
- UK
:
aster de Goldilocks
- The flowers of the goldilocks aster closely resemble those of the goldenrod.
Examples
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The goldilocks aster adds a splash of yellow to gardens in early spring.
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She planted several goldilocks asters along the border for their bright, cheerful blooms.
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The goldilocks aster blooms beautifully in the spring.
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I planted several goldilocks asters in my garden.
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She planted several goldilocks asters along the border for their bright, cheerful blooms.
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The goldilocks aster adds a splash of yellow to gardens in early spring.
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The flowers of the goldilocks aster closely resemble those of the goldenrod.
Synonyms
7
9.9
A small plant that blooms early in spring with yellow daisy-like flowers
A plant from southern Europe that flowers early and comes back every year with yellow heads like goldenrod
A plant that lives for many years and blooms early in summer with yellow flower heads
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents are concrete plant nouns, so 'goldilocks aster' is readily interpreted as an aster variety associated with or resembling the 'goldilocks' plant; the meaning is directly compositional rather than idiomatic. This noun+noun naming pattern for plant varieties is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both words would infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Goldilocks aster may come from the fairy-tale girl Goldilocks, because its small, bright yellow flower heads look like little heads of 'golden hair'. That's why the name refers to this early-flowering aster with yellow blooms.