canary grass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized / Technical
Quick answer
What does “canary grass” mean?
A type of grass cultivated for its seed, often used as bird food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of grass cultivated for its seed, often used as bird food.
Any of several grasses of the genus Phalaris, notably Phalaris canariensis, grown commercially for canary seed. Also refers to related grasses sometimes grown as ornamentals or forage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral botanical/agricultural term. Connotes farming, bird-keeping, or horticulture.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both regions, used primarily by farmers, bird breeders, botanists, and gardeners.
Grammar
How to Use “canary grass” in a Sentence
[Subject] grows/cultivates/harvests canary grassCanary grass is grown for [purpose]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canary grass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They plan to canary-grass that field next season. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- The farmer decided to plant canary grass. (verb + noun)
adjective
British English
- The canary-grass crop looked healthy. (hyphenated attributive)
American English
- He inspected the canary grass field. (noun-noun compound)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural commodities trading or bird-seed supply industries.
Academic
Used in botany, agriculture, and ecology papers.
Everyday
Rare, except among bird owners or gardeners.
Technical
Standard term in agronomy, horticulture, and ornithology for specific grass species.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canary grass”
- Using 'canary grass' to refer to any yellow grass.
- Spelling as 'canery grass'.
- Confusing it with 'canary creeper' (a different plant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In captivity, they eat its seeds. In the wild, their diet is more varied, but Phalaris species may be part of it.
The seeds are not typically grown or processed for human consumption.
Yes, it is an annual grass adapted to many temperate climates and is relatively undemanding.
No, the name comes from its use as canary food, not its color. The grass itself is typically green.
A type of grass cultivated for its seed, often used as bird food.
Canary grass is usually specialized / technical in register.
Canary grass: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈneəri ɡrɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈneri ɡræs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The GRASS that goes into a CANARY's seed mix.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT AS PRODUCT (grown for a specific commercial purpose).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'canary grass' primarily used for?