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yellow flag

yellow flag

1 4.8
A tall plant with yellow iris flowers that grows in wet places
  • noun
  • /ˈjɛloʊ flæɡ/
translation icon : bandera amarilla
  • The yellow flag.
  • yellow flag iris

Examples

  • The garden was beautiful, especially with the vibrant yellow flag iris blooming near the pond.

  • I see the yellow flag over there.

  • In wetlands, the yellow flag iris adds a splash of color with its bright yellow flowers.

  • During spring, I always look forward to seeing the yellow flag iris thrive along the riverbank.

Synonyms

Iris pseudacorus
vsyellow flag
  • Specialized
8.5

A plant with bright yellow flowers that grows near water

is the common, nontechnical name used in everyday contexts
yellow iris
vsyellow flag
3.5

A plant with bright yellow flowers that grows near ponds and rivers

is often used in North America to refer to the same naturalized species
yellow water flag
vsyellow flag
8.5

A yellow flower that grows in wet places like marshes and pond edges

is the general European species, naturalized more widely beyond specific wetlands

Surface Forms

yellow flag singular
yellow flags plural

Morphology

yellow + flag

This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'yellow' (a colour) modifying 'flag' in its plant sense, so the meaning (a yellow-flowered flag/iris) is directly derivable from the constituents. While 'flag' also commonly means a banner, given the plant sense in the input the compound follows normal compositional patterns and would be transparent to learners who know both words.

Etymology

Yellow flag is the name for a bright yellow iris that grows in wet places. People called the plant a flag because its wide, hanging petals looked like small flags, so yellow flag simply means 'the yellow iris'.