Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
white snapdragon

white snapdragon

9.3
A garden plant with tall stems of white flowers
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : boca de dragón blanca
  • Gardeners often plant white snapdragon to add a touch of brightness to their flowerbeds.

Examples

  • A single stem of white snapdragon was placed in the vase for a minimalist look.

  • The white snapdragon bloomed beautifully in the garden.

  • The white snapdragon is prized for its elegant, delicate blooms in garden borders.

  • Look at the white snapdragon!

  • In the garden, the tall white snapdragon stands out among the colorful flowers.

  • She carefully arranged the bouquet with fresh white snapdragons and vibrant wildflowers.

  • The pollinators were attracted to the fragrant white snapdragon flowers swaying in the breeze.

Synonyms

Antirrhinum coulterianum
vswhite snapdragon
  • Specialized
9.9

A small California plant with thin spikes of white flowers

is the broader general name for the same California plant

Surface Forms

white snapdragon singular
white snapdragons plural

Morphology

white + snapdragon

The phrase simply combines the adjective 'white' with the noun 'snapdragon' to refer to a snapdragon plant that has white flowers; this is a straightforward adjective + noun composition with no idiomatic or metaphorical shift. Such compositional patterns are cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

White snapdragon gets its name from how the flower looks and moves: the bloom looks like a little dragon's mouth that will 'snap' open if you press its sides. So snap (the quick opening) and dragon (the mouth shape) explain snapdragon, and white simply names the flower's colour, which is why the name means a plant with white, dragon-like flowers.