stinging nettle
Học thuậtThân thiện
A child carefully avoids a patch of stinging nettles while walking on the forest path.
Definition
Noun: * A perennial plant (Urtica dioica): A Eurasian nettle species now widespread in North America, characterized by broad, coarsely toothed leaves covered in numerous stinging hairs that inject irritants upon contact.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- Wear gloves when clearing the garden to avoid the stinging nettle.
- Despite its sting, the stinging nettle can be cooked and eaten like spinach.
- The field was overgrown with stinging nettles.
Advanced Usage
- Botanical Context: In botanical or foraging contexts, "stinging nettle" specifically refers to , distinguishing it from other, non-stinging or annual nettle species.
- Herbalists often harvest young stinging nettle leaves in spring for tea.
Variants and Related Words
- Nettle (n): A more general term for plants of the genus , which may or may not have stinging properties. "Stinging nettle" is a specific type of nettle.
- Not all nettles are stinging nettles.
- Deadnettle (n): A plant (genus ) with a similar leaf shape but no stinging hairs.
Synonyms
- Common nettle: Another name for the same plant, .
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To grasp the nettle (Idiom): To tackle a difficult problem boldly and directly. This idiom references the idea that grasping a nettle firmly may hurt less than brushing against it cautiously.
- The manager decided to grasp the nettle and address the team's conflicts head-on.
A child carefully avoids a patch of stinging nettles while walking on the forest path.
Noun
- perennial Eurasian nettle established in North America having broad coarsely toothed leaves with copious stinging hairs