scarlet fritillary
- noun
- US
- Gardeners admire the scarlet fritillary for its vibrant, bell-shaped flowers and unique coloration.
Examples
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The scarlet fritillary blooms in early spring across the foothills of California.
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We spotted several scarlet fritillaries during our hike in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
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The scarlet fritillary blooms in early spring.
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I saw a scarlet fritillary in the garden yesterday.
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Gardeners admire the scarlet fritillary for its vibrant, bell-shaped flowers and unique coloration.
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The scarlet fritillary blooms in early spring across the foothills of California.
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We spotted several scarlet fritillaries during our hike in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Synonyms
A lily plant with red and yellow bell-shaped flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'scarlet' names a color and 'fritillary' names a type of bulbous, bell-shaped flower, so the meaning is simply a fritillary that is scarlet in color. This compositional, descriptive pattern is common across languages and follows standard English adjective-noun morphology, making it immediately understandable to learners who know both words.
Etymology
Scarlet fritillary combines scarlet (a bright red color) and fritillary, an old name for bell-shaped flowers that were often spotted. The name gives the image of a bright red, bell-like flower, which is why people call this plant a 'scarlet fritillary' today.