brass buttons
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A perennial herbaceous plant: A South African plant, Cotula coronopifolia, naturalized in some coastal regions, characterized by small, bright yellow, button-like flower heads.
Usage Notes
- The term "brass buttons" is primarily used as the common name for this specific plant species. It functions as a singular noun when referring to the plant type or species, but can be pluralized when referring to multiple individual plants.
- It is most commonly used in botanical, horticultural, or ecological contexts.
Examples
- The wetland area was dotted with brass buttons, their yellow flowers bright against the green.
- Brass buttons is considered an invasive species in some coastal marshes.
- The gardener identified the low-growing plant with the round yellow flowers as brass buttons.
Advanced Usage
- The name is sometimes used in a descriptive, metaphorical sense to refer to objects that resemble the plant's small, round, metallic-looking flower heads.
Variants and Related Words
- Common Cotula: Another common name for the same species ().
- Buttonweed: A more general common name that can refer to plants in the genus or similar species.
Synonyms
- (Botanical name)
Different Meanings
- Literal Object: The phrase can also refer literally to buttons made from the metal alloy brass, which is a separate and more common meaning. Context is essential for distinguishing between the plant and the object.
- Example: The soldier's uniform had shiny brass buttons.
Noun
- South African herb with golden-yellow globose flower heads; naturalized in moist areas along coast of California; cultivated as an ornamental