spindle tree

9.1

A small tree with bright pink and orange berries often grown in gardens or woods

noun
/ˈspɪndəl tri/

: espino

The spindle tree produces beautiful red berries in autumn.

Examples

The spindle tree produces vibrant pink and orange berries in the autumn.
Gardeners often plant the spindle tree for its attractive foliage and seeds.
A wild spindle tree was growing along the edge of the meadow.
In our garden, we planted a spindle tree for its attractive foliage.
The spindle tree produces vibrant pink and orange berries in the autumn.
A wild spindle tree was growing along the edge of the meadow.
Gardeners often plant the spindle tree for its attractive foliage and seeds.

Synonyms

spindleberry tree

vsspindle tree

9.9

A small tree or climbing plant with bright red berries

is often grown for ornament or found growing in woodland

spindleberry

vsspindle tree

9.9

A small tree or bush that has bright red berries

applies to one shrub or small tree often grown for ornament or in woodland

Euonymus europaeus

vsspindle tree

Specialized

9.9

A small European bush with bright pink berries often grown in gardens

is the broader genus member often grown for ornament or found in woodland

common spindle tree

vsspindle tree

9.9

A small bush with hard white wood and bright fruit used in traditional medicine

is the general ornamental genus member rather than this specific medicinal species

winged spindle tree

vsspindle tree

9.9

A bushy shrub with winged branches and red leaves in autumn

is defined by showy usually reddish berries and ornamental or woodland growth

Surface Forms

spindle tree singular

spindle trees plural

Morphology

spindle + tree

The noun compound is compositionally clear: a B1 learner who knows 'spindle' and 'tree' will infer it denotes a type of tree associated with spindles, so the basic category (a kind of tree) is understandable. However, the precise botanical sense (Euonymus with showy reddish berries) and the historical/name origin are not predictable from the constituents alone, making the expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

The name spindle tree comes from people using the tree's straight, strong twigs as spindles to spin wool, so the name links the tree to the small tool 'spindle'.