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Glite Dictionary
rock cress

rock cress

8.0
A small flowering plant that grows among rocks, often in rock gardens
  • noun
  • /rɑk krɛs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : berro de roca
  • The rock cress blooms beautifully in spring.

Examples

  • Some species of rock cress have delicate white or pink flowers in early spring.

  • Rock cress thrives in well-drained soil and is perfect for rock gardens.

  • The gardener planted rock cress along the stone pathway to add some spring color.

  • I found a patch of rock cresses near the hiking trail.

  • In the spring, the rocky hillside was covered in wildflowers, including beautiful rock cress blooming between the stones.

  • The gardener carefully planted rock cress among the boulders to create a natural look in her garden.

  • As we hiked through the mountains, we noticed patches of rock cress thriving in the sunlit crevices.

Synonyms

Arabis
vsrock cress
  • Specialized
9.9

A small plant with white or pink flowers that grows on rocky slopes and in gardens

is the common name for small flowering plants that grow among rocks
rockcress
vsrock cress
8.8

A small plant with tiny flowers that grows in cracks on rocks

refers specifically to plants of that exact genus rather than the broader cress family

Surface Forms

rock cress singular
rock cresses plural

Morphology

rock + cress

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'rock' functions as a modifier of 'cress', so the phrase denotes the kind of cress that grows among rocks. This follows a regular noun‑noun compounding pattern found in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents (including 'cress') can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Rock cress is named for where it grows: a small cress-like plant that lives among rocks. That clear picture, little plants on stones, explains why the name means 'small flowering plants of rocky areas'.