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hop marjoram

hop marjoram

9.9
A small plant with fragrant leaves used to season food and decorate gardens
  • noun
  • /hɑp ˈmɑrdʒərəm/
translation icon : orégano de Creta
  • We planted hop marjoram in the courtyard for its fragrant leaves and compact growth.

Examples

  • The garden contained a variety of herbs, including hop marjoram for culinary uses.

  • Chefs in the region often prefer hop marjoram to add a unique aroma to dishes.

  • I love using hop marjoram in my cooking.

  • Can you suggest a recipe with hop marjoram?

  • Chefs in the region often prefer hop marjoram to add a unique aroma to dishes.

  • The garden contained a variety of herbs, including hop marjoram for culinary uses.

  • We planted hop marjoram in the courtyard for its fragrant leaves and compact growth.

Synonyms

Origanum dictamnus
vshop marjoram
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shrub from Crete with pink flowers and a strong smell

is used mainly for seasoning and sometimes grown for appearance
Cretan dittany
vshop marjoram
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shrub from Crete with a strong smell used in medicine and cooking

focuses on seasoning and sometimes on decorative planting
dittany of Crete
vshop marjoram
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shrub from Crete with soft hairy leaves and pink flowers used as a herb

is instead used mainly for seasoning and sometimes grown for looks
Crete dittany
vshop marjoram
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shrub from Crete with woolly leaves and pale purple flowers used in herbal medicine

is used for seasoning and also sometimes planted as an ornament

Surface Forms

hop marjoram singular
hop marjorams plural

Morphology

hop + marjoram

Learners who know 'marjoram' (an herb) and 'hop' (a plant) can infer that 'hop marjoram' is a kind of plant/herb — likely a marjoram with some relation to hops — so the basic culinary/plant sense is compositional. However, the specific botanical details (dwarf shrub native to Crete, ornamental use) and why 'hop' modifies 'marjoram' are not fully predictable from the parts, making the phrase only partially transparent.

Etymology

Hop marjoram may get its name because its small flower groups and smell remind people of hops, while it is a kind of marjoram. So the name paints an easy picture of a small, fragrant 'herb' that cooks and gardeners use.