Definition

Noun 1. A type of grass: Any of several species of grass that are characterized by their short stature and high tolerance for dry, drought-like conditions. These grasses are typically found in arid regions, such as the dry plains east of the Rocky Mountains in North America.

Usage

• The term "short-grass" is used as a countable noun to refer to a specific type or species of grass, or as an uncountable noun to describe a landscape dominated by such grasses.
• It is often used in ecological, botanical, and geographical contexts to describe prairie or plain ecosystems.

Examples

• The herd of bison migrated across the vast expanse of short-grass.
• Botanists are studying a drought-resistant short-grass native to the high plains.
• The landscape changed from tall prairie to short-grass as we moved westward.

Advanced Usage

• Short-grass prairie: This is a common ecological term for a grassland region where the dominant vegetation is shortgrass species.
  • Example: The short-grass prairie ecosystem is home to many unique species.

Variants and Related Words

• Shortgrass (noun): A common alternative spelling, often written as one word.
  • Example: The shortgrass plains are fragile and require careful management.

Synonyms

• Bunchgrass (Note: While many short-grasses are bunchgrasses, not all bunchgrasses are short. This is a close but not perfect synonym.)
• Dryland grass
• Prairie grass (general term that can include both tall and short species)

Different Meanings

• The term "short grass" (as two separate words) can sometimes be used in a general, non-botanical sense to describe any lawn or area of grass that has been recently mown.
  • Example: The golfers preferred the fast surface of the short grass on the fairway.
• The hyphenated form "short-grass" specifically refers to the botanical/ecological category.

Noun

1. any of various grasses that are short and can tolerate drought conditions; common on the dry upland plains just east of the Rocky Mountains