Skip to main content
traveler's joy

traveler's joy

9.8
A climbing plant that twines around walls and has white fragrant flowers in summer
  • noun
  • /ˈtrævələrz dʒɔɪ/
  • US
translation icon : alegría del viajero
  • In summer, traveler's joy covers the old stone wall with clouds of white blossom.

Examples

  • Gardeners often plant traveler's joy to create a fragrant, leafy screen.

  • We spotted traveler's joy twining around the hedgerow during our hike.

  • The garden was filled with beautiful traveler's joy plants.

  • I love the smell of traveler's joy in bloom.

  • In summer, traveler's joy covers the old stone wall with clouds of white blossom.

  • Gardeners often plant traveler's joy to create a fragrant, leafy screen.

  • We spotted traveler's joy twining around the hedgerow during our hike.

Synonyms

Clematis vitalba
vstraveler's joy
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong climbing plant that loses its leaves in winter and has fragrant greenish-white flowers in summer and autumn

includes Europe and North Africa in its native range rather than eastern areas

Surface Forms

Morphology

traveler + joy

This is a conventional, lexicalized name for a specific plant; the literal constituents 'traveler' and 'joy' only suggest 'something that brings pleasure to a traveler' rather than indicating a plant. A B1 learner who knows the words would be unlikely to infer the botanical meaning without prior exposure, so the expression is unpredictable from its parts.

Etymology

Traveler's joy comes from country paths where the plant grows. Its white, fragrant flowers and fluffy seedheads often cover hedges and walls and make the road feel brighter for people on a 'journey', so the plant was seen as a little joy for travelers.