Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
leather fern

leather fern

7.9
A tropical fern with tough, split leaves that grows in wet places
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛðər fɜrn/
translation icon : helecho de cuero
  • The leather fern thrives in humid, tropical environments and is known for its tough fronds.

Examples

  • In the wild, the leather fern helps stabilize riverbanks and wetlands with its strong roots.

  • Gardeners often choose the leather fern for its resilience and attractive foliage.

  • The leather fern thrives in humid environments.

  • I spotted a leather fern near the swamp.

  • Gardeners often choose the leather fern for its resilience and attractive foliage.

  • In the wild, the leather fern helps stabilize riverbanks and wetlands with its strong roots.

  • The leather fern thrives in humid, tropical environments and is known for its tough fronds.

Synonyms

leatherleaf fern
vsleather fern
  • Australian
8.4

A tropical plant with thick divided leaves often used as greenery

focuses on occurrence in swamp habitats rather than geographic spread

Surface Forms

leather fern singular
leather ferns plural

Morphology

leather + fern

The meaning—a fern characterized by leathery fronds—is directly compositional from 'leather' (leathery texture) + 'fern' (the plant). This descriptive compound follows normal English noun-noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Leather fern: The name leather fern comes from the plant's tough, leather-like leaves. People used leather to describe the thick, strong leaves of the fern, so the name means 'a fern with tough, leathery leaves'.