field penny-cress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareTechnical / Botanical
Quick answer
What does “field penny-cress” mean?
A small, flowering plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), typically found in arable land and waste ground.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, flowering plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), typically found in arable land and waste ground.
Refers specifically to Thlaspi arvense, a common weed known for its distinctive round, flat seed pods and clusters of small white flowers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, it's more common to see 'field pennycress' or 'pennycress' without the hyphen. In British English, the hyphenated 'penny-cress' is standard.
Connotations
Both dialects recognize it primarily as an agricultural weed, though it has gained some attention in the US as a potential cover crop for phytoremediation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its study as a biofuel and phytoremediation crop.
Grammar
How to Use “field penny-cress” in a Sentence
The [adj] field penny-cress [verb]...A patch of field penny-cress...To identify field penny-cress...The seeds of field penny-cress...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “field penny-cress” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The field penny-cress infestation was severe.
American English
- We studied the field pennycress genome.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Mentioned in agricultural reports and discussions on weed control or, conversely, in emerging biotech contexts regarding its use for biofuel.
Academic
Used in botanical texts, ecology papers, and agricultural studies.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of gardening or farming conversations.
Technical
Precise species identification in botany, agronomy, and environmental science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “field penny-cress”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “field penny-cress”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “field penny-cress”
- Spelling as one word: 'fieldpennycress'. Confusing it with garden cress or watercress.
- Pronouncing 'cress' to rhyme with 'dress' (incorrect) instead of 'press' (correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not considered edible for humans and can impart a bitter, unpleasant flavour to milk if grazed by dairy cattle.
When the leaves or seeds are crushed, they emit a strong, unpleasant odour reminiscent of garlic or rotting cabbage.
It competes with crops for nutrients and water, can host pests and diseases, and its seeds can contaminate grain harvests.
Recently, it has been researched for its ability to accumulate heavy metals from soil (phytoremediation) and as a potential source of biofuel.
A small, flowering plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), typically found in arable land and waste ground.
Field penny-cress is usually technical / botanical in register.
Field penny-cress: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfiːld ˈpɛni ˌkrɛs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfild ˈpɛni ˌkrɛs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As common as field penny-cress (very common, often unwanted).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FIELD where PENNIES have grown into CRESS (a leafy plant) – a field of penny-cress.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PLANT IS AN INVADER (common metaphor for weeds).
Practice
Quiz
Field penny-cress is best described as: