Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
witch alder

witch alder

9.4
A small shrub that loses its leaves in winter with white spring flowers and bright red or orange autumn leaves
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪtʃ ˈɔːldər/
  • US
translation icon : fothergilla
  • In autumn, the leaves of the witch alder turn stunning shades of red and orange.

Examples

  • The witch alder brightens up the garden each spring with clusters of fragrant white flowers.

  • We planted a witch alder near the patio for its colorful seasonal display.

  • The witch alder blooms beautifully in spring.

  • I saw a witch alder during my hike.

  • In autumn, the leaves of the witch alder turn stunning shades of red and orange.

  • The witch alder brightens up the garden each spring with clusters of fragrant white flowers.

  • We planted a witch alder near the patio for its colorful seasonal display.

Synonyms

fothergilla
vswitch alder
  • Specialized
9.9

A low bush that has white spiky flowers in spring and bright red and orange leaves in autumn

is one shrub of that group with brushlike spring flowers and bright autumn leaves

Surface Forms

witch alder singular
witch alders plural

Morphology

witch + alder

A B1 learner who knows 'witch' and 'alder' would likely infer this is a type of plant (a kind of alder) because noun‑noun compounds commonly signal that relation, so some basic sense is recoverable. However, the specific referent and properties (it is actually a Fothergilla shrub, not a true alder) and the role of 'witch' as an arbitrary name element are not predictable from the constituents, so full understanding requires prior exposure.

Etymology

Witch alder may come from an old word 'wych' meaning 'bending' combined with the tree name alder, so the name gives the image of an alder-like shrub with flexible branches. That's why Witch alder is used for the small shrub with white brushlike spring flowers and bright red or orange autumn leaves.