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merry bells

merry bells

9.9
A small wild plant with yellow bell-shaped flowers that hang down
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : campanillas
  • She planted merry bells along the shady side of her garden for their delicate flowers.

Examples

  • The merry bells in the woodland bloomed brightly each spring.

  • Hikers admired the clusters of merry bells nestled among the ferns.

  • The merry bells bloom in early spring.

  • Have you seen the merry bells in the garden?

  • Hikers admired the clusters of merry bells nestled among the ferns.

  • She planted merry bells along the shady side of her garden for their delicate flowers.

  • The merry bells in the woodland bloomed brightly each spring.

Synonyms

wild oats
vsmerry bells
  • US
1 9.9

A small plant with yellow hanging bell-shaped flowers that grows in woods

is a term for several North American species with the same flowers
bellwort
vsmerry bells
  • Specialized
9.9

A small woodland plant with slender stems and yellow bell-shaped flowers

is the broader name for several related species without stressing stem shape

Surface Forms

merry bells singular
merry bells plural
merry bell singular

Morphology

merry + bell

The element 'bell(s)' clearly signals a bell-shaped flower, so a learner who knows 'bell' can infer this refers to a plant with bell-like blooms; however 'merry' is metaphorical and does not convey the specific botanical features (yellow, drooping, genus). Therefore the connection is partial: a B1 learner might guess it's a kind of bell-shaped flower but would not derive the full, specific botanical meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Merry bells may come from the little yellow flowers that hang like tiny bells and look cheerful in the woods. So the name links merry ('cheerful') and bells (the bell-shaped flowers), which explains why people use it for this plant today.