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Glite Dictionary
redwood family

redwood family

6.8
A group of trees that make cones and include very large, long-lived types
  • noun
  • /ˈrɛdˌwʊd ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia de las secuoyas
  • The redwood family includes some of the largest and oldest trees in the world.

Examples

  • Recent studies suggest that the redwood family should be classified within the cypress family.

  • The redwood family includes some of the tallest trees in the world.

  • Botanists have debated whether the redwood family is truly separate from other conifers.

  • Many species in the redwood family thrive in coastal areas.

  • The redwood family includes trees known for their impressive height and longevity.

  • Many species within the redwood family are found along the Pacific coast of North America.

  • The distinctive features of the redwood family contribute to their unique ecological role in forest ecosystems.

Synonyms

Taxodiaceae
vsredwood family
  • Archaic
9.9

A group of cone-bearing trees once seen as a separate family now in the cypress family

is the modern classification placing the group within a larger family

Surface Forms

redwood family singular
redwood families plural

Morphology

redwood + family

The meaning is directly compositional: 'redwood' names the tree type and 'family' denotes a scientific grouping, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer 'a group of related redwood trees or species.' This taxonomic construction is standard and cross-linguistically common, making the phrase predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Redwood family comes from the word redwood, the very large trees known for their reddish wood, and family, meaning a 'group of related plants'. So the phrase names the 'group of trees' that are closely related to the redwood trees.