thatch tree

9.9

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies with leaves used to make roofs

noun
/θætʃ tri/

: árbol de techo

Many traditional roofs in the Caribbean are made from the fronds of the thatch tree.

Examples

The thatch tree is often used in landscaping because of its resilience in tropical climates.
Botanists studied the growth patterns of the thatch tree in southern Florida.
Look at the thatch tree!
The thatch tree is commonly found in Florida.
Many traditional roofs in the Caribbean are made from the fronds of the thatch tree.
Botanists studied the growth patterns of the thatch tree in southern Florida.
The thatch tree is often used in landscaping because of its resilience in tropical climates.

Synonyms

Thrinax parviflora

vsthatch tree

Specialized

9.9

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies that looks like the silvertop palmetto

is the everyday common term rather than the scientific label

broom palm

vsthatch tree

9.9

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies that looks like the silvertop palmetto

is a general description that mentions habitat and form

thatch palm

vsthatch tree

8.8

A small palm tree from southern Florida and the West Indies with leaves used to cover roofs

describes the same plant without mentioning practical leaf use

silver thatch

vsthatch tree

9.9

A small palm tree with silvery leaves

gives a neutral description and does not stress leaf color

Surface Forms

thatch tree singular

thatch trees plural

Morphology

thatch + tree

The noun compound is compositionally interpretable: a B1 learner who knows 'thatch' and 'tree' can infer it refers to a tree associated with thatch (e.g., used for roofing or having straw-like fronds). However, the precise botanical sense (a specific small palm species native to Florida and the West Indies) is not predictable from the constituents, so the transparency is only partial.

Etymology

Thatch tree gets its name from thatch because people used the tree's long leaves to make 'roof coverings' in the Caribbean and Florida. That's why the name links the plant to its use for making roofs.