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Glite Dictionary
yerba buena

yerba buena

1 9.9
A low green herb from northwestern USA with a minty smell used to make soothing tea
  • noun
  • /ˈjɜr.bə ˈbweɪ.nə/
  • US
translation icon : yerba buena
  • One mile southeast of there it would, but I don't know if you can get that price on the wrong side of Yerba Buena.

Examples

  • There are many nice properties north of Yerba Buena, but they don't command the prices that you get in Silver Creek.

    Blog text (17)

  • It's real yerba buena from the garden.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The herbalist recommended using yerba buena for its calming properties in teas.

  • She freshly picked yerba buena to add a refreshing flavor to her dishes.

  • In traditional medicine, yerba buena is known for its soothing effects on digestion.

Synonyms

Micromeria chamissonis
vsyerba buena
  • Specialized
9.9

A low evergreen herb with small white flowers used for medicine

is the same plant but described with the general common name
Satureja douglasii
vsyerba buena
  • Specialized
9.9

A creeping evergreen herb with small white flowers that people use as a traditional medicine

is the same plant but phrased to stress traditional use
Micromeria douglasii
vsyerba buena
  • Specialized
9.9

A low evergreen plant with small white flowers and fragrant leaves that people use as medicine

is the same species but adds that it is perennial

Surface Forms

yerba buena singular
yerba buenas plural

Morphology

yerba + buena

The phrase literally combines Spanish yerba 'herb' + buena 'good', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a (medicinal) herb — essentially 'good herb'. Although it is a lexicalized plant name for a specific species, the core meaning 'a (medicinal) herb' is transparently derived from the parts and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Yerba buena comes from Spanish and literally shows yerba 'herb' and buena 'good', meaning 'good herb'. Early Spanish settlers and local people used the plant to make soothing teas and simple medicine, so the name stuck and now refers to this minty, healing herb.