释义 |
wil·low I. \ˈwi(ˌ)lō, -_lə; -_ləw or -_lō+V\ noun (-s) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English wilghe, welew, wilowe, from Old English welig; akin to Middle Dutch, Middle Low German, & Middle High German wilge willow, Greek helikē, and perhaps to Greek helissein to wind — more at helenium 1. a. : a tree or shrub of the genus Salix many of which are of economic importance as sources of wood, osiers, or bark useful for tanning and a few of which (as the white willow and weeping willow) are ornamental shade trees b. : any of several other plants more or less like a willow — compare desert willow, wilga, willow herb 2. : something derived from a willow tree: as a. : osier 2 b. : a sprig or garland of willow (as of weeping willow) worn as a symbol of lost love < twenty years time, when you're wearing the willow, you'll be sorry you went about outgrowing everybody in such a hurry — Margaret Kennedy > c. : an object made of willow wood; especially : cricket bat 3. [alteration of willy (I) ] a. : a textile machine in which cotton or wool is opened and cleaned by a spiked drum revolving in a box studded internally with spikes — called also willower, willy b. : duster 1b II. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) 1. : to open and clean (textile fibers) with a willow 2. : to put (raw material for making paper pulp) through a duster |