magnolia family
- noun
- /mæɡˈnoʊliə ˈfæmɪli/
- Specialized
- In many regions, plants from the magnolia family are prized for their stunning flowers and fragrant blooms.
- a member of the magnolia family
Examples
-
A tree found on the forest slopes is tulip poplar, a member of the magnolia family, whose creamy yellow flowers resemble tulip blossoms.
Academic text (1993) -
The tulip poplar is a beautiful tree that belongs to the magnolia family and can grow up to 100 feet tall.
-
The magnolia family includes several species known for their large, vibrant flowers that attract many pollinators.
Synonyms
A group of flowering trees and bushes that includes magnolias
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a family of flowering plants that includes Magnolia and related genera' is directly and compositionally derived from 'Magnolia' (the plant/genus) plus 'family' (a grouping of related species). This taxonomic noun + family pattern is standard and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Magnolia family comes from the name of the tree magnolia and the word family, which means a 'group' of similar plants; the tree name magnolia was given in honor of the French plant scientist Pierre Magnol. So magnolia family means the 'group' of flowering plants that are related to magnolias.