greater knapweed
- noun
- UK
:
centaurea mayor
- The greater knapweed blooms in late summer, attracting numerous butterflies to the field.
Examples
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Researchers studied how greater knapweed contributes to the diversity of wildflower meadows.
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Have you seen the greater knapweed in the meadow?
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Gardeners appreciate greater knapweed for its vivid, thistle-like purple blossoms.
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The greater knapweed blooms in late summer.
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Gardeners appreciate greater knapweed for its vivid, thistle-like purple blossoms.
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Researchers studied how greater knapweed contributes to the diversity of wildflower meadows.
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The greater knapweed blooms in late summer, attracting numerous butterflies to the field.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A wild plant with purple, thistle-like flowers
A tall European plant with purple flower heads that comes back each year
A tall plant from Europe with purple flower heads that lives for several years
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a larger species of knapweed' is directly and transparently derived from 'greater' (larger) modifying 'knapweed' (a flowering plant). This modifier+noun compositional pattern is common in English and in other languages (e.g. 'greater/lesser' species names), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the botanical sense.
Etymology
Greater knapweed comes from old words where knap meant a small 'knob' or 'tuft' and weed just meant a wild plant. So greater knapweed simply means the larger wild plant with big, round purple flower heads, which helps you picture the tall, thistle-like blooms.