nodding thistle
- noun
- /ˈnɒdɪŋ ˈθɪsəl/
- UK
:
cardo de nodos
- The fields near the old farmhouse were filled with blooming nodding thistle in late summer.
Examples
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Some gardeners remove nodding thistle to prevent its rapid spread, despite its attractive flowers.
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Bees are often attracted to the nodding thistle for its rich nectar supply.
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The nodding thistle is often found in meadows.
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I spotted a nodding thistle during my hike.
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Bees are often attracted to the nodding thistle for its rich nectar supply.
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The fields near the old farmhouse were filled with blooming nodding thistle in late summer.
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Some gardeners remove nodding thistle to prevent its rapid spread, despite its attractive flowers.
Synonyms
15
5.6
A wild plant with prickly leaves and purple flowers
A spiny plant from Europe and Asia with drooping red-purple flower heads that grows wild in fields
A spiny plant with red nodding flowers that have a strong smell and give nectar to bees
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning — a thistle whose flower heads droop — is directly and compositionally derived from 'nodding' (drooping/bending) + 'thistle' (a spiny plant). Adjective + noun combinations like this are cross-linguistically common and follow standard English composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Nodding thistle: The plant name nodding thistle comes from the way its spiny flower heads bend down, so they look like they are nodding. That's why the name describes a thistle with 'drooping' flower heads.