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Glite Dictionary
shadblow

shadblow

9.9
A tree or shrub with white flowers and dark blue berries you can eat
  • noun
  • /ˈʃædˌbloʊ/
  • US
translation icon : shadblow
  • In early spring, the shadblow bursts into bloom before many other trees.
  • shadblow (Amelanchier)

Examples

  • Many birds enjoy the fruit of the shadblow.

  • The shadblow tree blooms beautifully in spring.

  • The garden's shadblow provided both shade and delicious berries.

  • We picked the ripe fruit from the shadblow near the riverbank.

  • The shadblow tree is known for its beautiful white flowers in the spring.

  • We enjoyed the sweet berries from our shadblow bush last summer.

  • In our neighborhood, the shadblow provides a stunning display of blossoms each year.

Synonyms

serviceberry
vsshadblow
  • US
1 9.2

A small tree or bush with white flowers and dark purple edible berries

covers various members of the genus, not only small ones
shadbush
vsshadblow
  • US
9.9

A small tree or bush with white spring flowers and dark berries you can eat

is the other common name form rather than this variant
juneberry
vsshadblow
  • US
8.8

A North American tree or shrub with white flowers and blue-black edible fruit

specifies membership of the named genus rather than a general tree
service tree
vsshadblow
  • US
9.9

A North American tree or shrub with white flowers that makes dark edible berries

is strictly about the genus members rather than a broader label
Amelanchier
vsshadblow
  • Specialized
9.9

A small tree or bush with white flowers and sweet edible berries

refers to individual plants within that scientific group

Surface Forms

shadblow singular
shadblows plural

Morphology

shadblow = shad + blow (semi-transparent) = shad + blow

Formally a compound of 'shad' (the fish) + 'blow' (an archaic noun for 'blossom'); the seasonal/cultural link and the archaic sense of 'blow' make the connection not obvious to many learners.

Etymology

The word shadblow comes from the fish shad and the old word blow, which means 'bloom' or 'flower'. People named this tree because it blooms when the shad swim up rivers in spring, so shadblow is an early-flowering tree with white flowers and edible fruit.