sage-brush
Definition
- Noun:
- A shrub of arid regions: "sage-brush" refers to any of various aromatic shrubs of the genus Artemisia, especially Artemisia tridentata, common in the dry plains and mountainous regions of western North America. It is characterized by its silvery-green leaves and a strong, pungent odor.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The vast landscape was covered in sage-brush as far as the eye could see. (The area was dominated by this aromatic shrub.)
- Ranchers often clear sage-brush to create grazing land for cattle. (They remove the shrub to make pasture.)
Advanced Usage
"sage-brush country": a region where sage-brush is the dominant vegetation, often used to describe the arid interior West of the United States.
- They traveled through the sage-brush country of Nevada. (They journeyed across the dry, shrub-covered plains.)
"sage-brush rebellion": a political movement in the western United States advocating for state control over federal lands, named after the plant's association with the region.
- The sage-brush rebellion gained momentum in the 1970s. (The movement for local land management became popular.)
Variants and Related Words
Sagebrush (n): a common alternative spelling without the hyphen, referring to the same plant.
- Sagebrush is a vital part of the desert ecosystem. (The shrub plays a key role in the environment.)
Sage (n): a related plant in the mint family, often used as a culinary herb, but distinct from sage-brush.
- She used fresh sage in the stuffing. (A different aromatic plant used in cooking.)
Synonyms
- Artemisia: the genus name for sage-brush and related plants.
- Wormwood: a common name for some species of , including sage-brush, though often referring to bitter plants used in absinthe.
Related Idioms
- "Sage-brush and silence": a poetic phrase evoking the solitude and emptiness of the American West.
- The poem described the sage-brush and silence of the prairie. (It captured the quiet, desolate landscape.)