ground ivy

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Word: Ground Ivy

Definition: Ground ivy is a type of plant that belongs to the mint family. It has round leaves and small purple flowers. This plant often grows close to the ground and can spread out widely. It is sometimes found in gardens or hanging baskets and has become common in North America, even though it originally comes from Europe.

Usage Instructions:

• As a Noun: "We planted ground ivy in our garden."
• You can use "ground ivy" when talking about gardening, plants, or natural environments.

Example Sentence:

• "The ground ivy in my yard blooms with small purple flowers every spring."

Advanced Usage:

Ground ivy is also known for its aromatic properties, meaning it has a pleasant smell. Some people use it in herbal remedies or teas.

Word Variants:

• Scientific Name: The scientific name of ground ivy is Glechoma hederacea.
• Synonyms: Other names for ground ivy include "creeping Charlie" and "gill-over-the-ground."

Different Meanings:

While "ground ivy" specifically refers to this plant, in different contexts, "ivy" can refer to other climbing plants, which may not have the same characteristics.

Synonyms:

• Creeping Charlie
• Gill-over-the-ground

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There aren’t any common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "ground ivy," but you might hear the phrase "growing like weeds," which means something is growing very quickly and abundantly, similar to how ground ivy can spread.

Summary:

Ground ivy is a low-growing, fragrant plant with rounded leaves and purplish flowers. It's often found in gardens and is recognized for its rapid growth and aromatic qualities.

Academic

Noun

1. trailing European aromatic plant of the mint family having rounded leaves and small purplish flowers often grown in hanging baskets; naturalized in North America; sometimes placed in genus Nepeta

Synonyms

• alehoof
• field balm
• gill-over-the-ground
• runaway robin
• Glechoma hederaceae
• Nepeta hederaceae