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wild parsnip

wild parsnip

8.6
A wild plant with yellow flowers and a bitter root that can irritate skin
  • noun
  • /waɪld ˈpɑːrsnɪp/
translation icon : chirivía silvestre
  • Many hikers avoid touching wild parsnip because its sap can cause skin irritation.

Examples

  • Unlike the domesticated version, wild parsnip has a root that is too bitter to eat.

  • The fields near the river are covered with blooming wild parsnip each summer.

  • The wild parsnip can be found in many fields.

  • Many people mistake wild parsnips for other plants.

  • Many hikers avoid touching wild parsnip because its sap can cause skin irritation.

  • The fields near the river are covered with blooming wild parsnip each summer.

  • Unlike the cultivated variety, wild parsnip features a root that is too bitter to eat.

Synonyms

madnep
vswild parsnip
  • Archaic
9.9

A wild plant like a parsnip with yellow flowers and a bitter root you should not eat raw

is the common name used instead of the older alternative

Surface Forms

wild parsnip singular
wild parsnips plural

Morphology

wild + parsnip

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'wild' (growing naturally, not cultivated) + 'parsnip' (a root vegetable) yields a parsnip that grows in the wild rather than one cultivated. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and easily derivable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Wild parsnip is the wild relative of the garden parsnip; it grows in fields with bright yellow flowers but has a bitter root and sap that can burn the skin. So the name tells you it is 'not for eating' and can be dangerous to touch.