ice plant
1
7.0
- noun
- /aɪs plænt/
:
planta de hielo
- After a time, I began to grow tired from the sun and wind; we wove our way then across the springy ice plants until we came to what we thought was the cliff's edge.
- ice plants (Carpobrotus species)
- growing ice plant
Examples
-
I scuffed around barefoot through the ice plant, telling myself this was no visitation, that God hadn't sent this certain cop to imply what a drugged, traitorous scoundrel I must be.
Fiction book (1990) -
Ice plant, palm trees, bougainvillea, and flowers blooming in any direction.
Fiction book (1998) -
I sat down upon the ice plants, my feet dangling just near the edge to the drop below, and watched the water furiously wash in and out.
Fiction book (2001) -
The ice plant in my garden blooms brightly in the spring, attracting many butterflies.
-
With its fleshy leaves and glistening hairs, the ice plant adds a unique touch to the landscape.
-
In warmer climates, the ice plant thrives, providing vibrant color and texture to rocky areas.
Synonyms
A small plant with thick, fleshy leaves that look like ice crystals and white flowers
A small plant with white flowers and thick hairy leaves that look like ice
How Succulent
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'ice' modifies 'plant', so a learner who knows both words will plausibly infer a plant associated with ice (e.g., appearing encrusted with or resembling ice). The modifier+head composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and does not require idiomatic knowledge, making the meaning derivable from the parts.
Etymology
The plant name ice plant comes from the way its leaves and stems have tiny shiny hairs that make the plant look like it is covered in ice after rain or in strong sun. So the name means a plant that is 'covered in ice' in appearance.