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Glite Dictionary
kangaroo's paw

kangaroo's paw

9.8
An Australian plant with soft, tube-shaped flowers often grown in gardens
  • noun
  • /ˈkæŋɡəruːz pɔː/
  • Australian
translation icon : pata de canguro
  • Many florists use kangaroo's paw in bouquets for its unique shape and vibrant hues.

Examples

  • The kangaroo's paw adds striking color to Australian native gardens.

  • After visiting the botanical garden, Mia planted a kangaroo's paw in her backyard.

  • The kangaroo's paw is a unique plant native to Australia.

  • I saw a beautiful kangaroo's paw in the botanical garden.

  • Many florists incorporate kangaroo's paw into their arrangements due to its striking flowers.

  • In her garden, Sarah showcased a kangaroo's paw among other native Australian plants.

  • The vibrant blooms of the kangaroo's paw attract numerous pollinators throughout the spring.

Synonyms

kangaroo paw
vskangaroo's paw
  • Australian
9.1

An Australian plant with long leaves and bright fuzzy flowers shaped like tubes

is the same in meaning but written with a possessive form
kangaroo-foot plant
vskangaroo's paw
  • Australian
9.9

An Australian plant with fuzzy spring flowers shaped like a kangaroo's foot

is used more for decoration rather than highlighting the flower's unusual form
Australian sword lily
vskangaroo's paw
  • Australian
9.6

A grasslike plant from Australia that flowers in spring with clusters of woolly flowers

is focused on ornamental tubular blooms rather than on swordlike leaves
Anigozanthus manglesii
vskangaroo's paw
  • Specialized
9.9

An Australian plant that flowers in spring and has clumps of red and green furry flowers

is the broader name for many similar species rather than one specific kind
kangaroo's-foot
vskangaroo's paw
  • Australian
9.3

A plant from Australia with long grasslike leaves and fuzzy flower clusters

stresses ornamental tubular blooms and spring flowering rather than leaf form
Anigozanthus
vskangaroo's paw
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of Australian plants with woolly flowers on tall stems like kangaroo's paw

is a particular spring-flowering member used ornamentally within that genus

Surface Forms

kangaroo's paw singular
kangaroo's paws plural

Morphology

kangaroo's + paw

The phrase is compositionally built from 'kangaroo' + 'paw' and the plant name is motivated by a perceived resemblance to a kangaroo's paw, so the constituent meanings provide a clear clue. However, identifying the referent as a specific Australian flowering plant (rather than the literal animal body part) requires world knowledge or prior exposure, so the link is only partially predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Kangaroo's paw comes from Australia. People thought its woolly, tube-shaped flowers looked like the paw of a kangaroo, so the name stuck and now refers to this spring-flowering plant.