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sage willow

sage willow

9.5
A North American shrub with long narrow light gray or white leaves
  • noun
  • /seɪdʒ ˈwɪloʊ/
  • US
translation icon : sauce de salvia
  • The sage willow thrives along riverbanks in northern regions.

Examples

  • Wildlife often uses the dense branches of the sage willow for shelter.

  • Botanists studied the distinctive leaves of the sage willow during their survey.

  • The sage willow thrives in wetland areas.

  • Many gardeners love the sage willow for its beauty.

  • Botanists examined the unique characteristics of the sage willow in their study of local flora.

  • The sage willow grows abundantly near streams and ponds in the northern parts of the country.

  • Birds often nest in the branches of the sage willow, making it an important habitat for wildlife.

Synonyms

Salix candida
vssage willow
  • Specialized
9.9

A small willow shrub with white fuzzy leaves that grows in wet places

is the common everyday name rather than the scientific term

Surface Forms

sage willow singular
sage willows plural

Morphology

sage + willow

The noun is a straightforward adjective + noun compound: 'sage' (a grey‑green colour or resembling sage leaves) modifies 'willow', so the phrase denotes a willow with sage‑coloured or sage‑like leaves. This compositional pattern is regular and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Sage willow may come from how the plant looks: its long, narrow, pale leaves remind people of the herb sage, and its branches and shape look like other trees called willows. So the name tells you it is a 'willow-like' shrub with 'sage' coloured leaves.