sycamore fig
- noun
- /ˈsɪkəˌmɔr fɪg/
- South African
:
sicomoro
- The children climbed the sturdy branches of the sycamore fig to get a better view.
Examples
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A wide sycamore fig shaded the well at the center of the village.
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Farmers in Africa often harvest sycamore figs for local consumption despite their inferior taste.
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The biblical story mentions a sycamore fig tree in Jericho.
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The sycamore fig tree provides shade in the hot sun.
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Many sycamore figs grow in the gardens of Jerusalem.
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The large sycamore fig tree provided plenty of shade for the picnic.
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During our hike, we spotted a sycamore fig tree laden with ripe fruit.
Synonyms
10
4.8
A large tree with pale, peeling bark and broad leaves that gives good shade
A large tree with thick branches from Africa and southwestern Asia that produces small edible figs
A large tree with wide branches from Africa and southwest Asia that grows small edible figs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is compositionally transparent: 'sycamore' names a type of tree and 'fig' names the fruit/tree, so together they denote a fig tree of the sycamore type. This follows common noun-noun naming patterns for plants, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a kind of fig tree even if they lack botanical details.
Etymology
Sycamore fig shows a large fig tree with wide branches and a thick trunk. Because this tree appears in a Bible story where a man climbed a sycamore to see Jesus, it is easy to remember it as the big, common fig tree that gives many small edible fruits and shade.