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sand cherry

sand cherry

9.2
A small shrub in North America that grows in sandy soil and has small dark fruit not good to eat
  • noun
  • /sænd ˈʧɛri/
  • US
translation icon : cereza de arena
  • The sand cherry thrives in well-drained, sandy soils along the edge of forests.

Examples

  • Although the sand cherry produces fruit, it is generally not considered suitable for eating.

  • Some gardeners plant sand cherry as an ornamental shrub because of its beautiful foliage.

  • The sand cherry is a unique plant.

  • Many birds enjoy eating sand cherries.

  • The sand cherry is known for its small purplish-black fruit that is rarely consumed by humans.

  • In the summer, the sand cherry adds color to gardens with its dark fruit and lush green leaves.

  • The sand cherry grows best in sandy soil, often found in dry areas near forests.

Synonyms

Prunus pumila
vssand cherry
  • Specialized
9.9

A low North American bush in the cherry family that grows on sandy ground and makes small dark sour fruit

is a common small shrub rather than an especially straggling form
Prunus susquehanae
vssand cherry
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wild cherry that grows on sandy soil with tiny bitter dark fruit

is described clearly as a shrub rather than a general plant
Prunus pumilla susquehanae
vssand cherry
  • Specialized
9.9

A small spreading American cherry that grows on sandy ground and has tiny sour dark fruit

is a compact shrub instead of a sprawling groundcover
Prunus cuneata
vssand cherry
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wild cherry tree that grows on sandy soil and has tiny dark bitter fruits

is a shrub form rather than a tree habit

Surface Forms

sand cherry singular
sand cherries plural

Morphology

sand + cherry

The compound 'sand cherry' is transparently built from 'sand' + 'cherry' meaning a cherry/shrub associated with sandy soil; a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a cherry-like plant growing in sand. This noun compounding pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so the sense is immediately comprehensible without prior exposure.

Etymology

The compound noun sand cherry comes from a simple picture: a small cherry-like plant that grows in sand. Because its tiny dark 'fruit' look like cherries but are not good to eat, the name now means that particular 'shrub' found in sandy soil.