pollen
Pollen is a fine powder, usually yellow, produced by flowers and trees. It is carried by wind or insects to other plants so they can produce seeds and fruit.
Examples
3 of 5The bees are busy collecting pollen from the sunflowers in the garden.
The insects are picking up yellow powder from the large flowers.
Recent scientific data indicates a significant increase in atmospheric pollen levels this decade.
New research shows there is much more plant powder in the air lately.
My nose is so itchy because of all the pollen flying around today!
The plant dust in the air is making my face feel tingly and irritated.
Synonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'Pollen' as 'Plant Powder' (both start with P).
Quick Quiz
In the spring, many people sneeze because there is a lot of _____ in the air.
Correct!
The correct answer is: pollen
Examples
The bees are busy collecting pollen from the sunflowers in the garden.
everydayThe insects are picking up yellow powder from the large flowers.
Recent scientific data indicates a significant increase in atmospheric pollen levels this decade.
formalNew research shows there is much more plant powder in the air lately.
My nose is so itchy because of all the pollen flying around today!
informalThe plant dust in the air is making my face feel tingly and irritated.
Cross-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred between different plant individuals of the same species.
academicPlants reproduce when their powder moves from one plant to another.
Our new ventilation system features a specialized filter designed to trap 99% of airborne pollen.
businessThe company's air machine can catch almost all the plant dust from the air.
Synonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
hay fever
a common term for a pollen allergy
pollen season
the time of year when plants release their powder
collect pollen
to gather the dust from plants (usually done by insects)
Often Confused With
Pollution refers to dirty air or water from factories, while pollen is a natural powder from plants.
Dust is general dirt from the floor or furniture, whereas pollen is specifically for plant reproduction.
Usage Notes
Pollen is usually an uncountable noun. You don't say 'three pollens'; you say 'a lot of pollen' or 'grains of pollen'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often treat it as a countable noun or confuse it with 'pollution' because the words start with the same letters.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Pollen' as 'Plant Powder' (both start with P).
Word Origin
From the Latin word 'pollen', which means 'fine flour' or 'dust'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many countries, weather reports include a 'pollen count' during spring to help people with hay fever plan their day.
Quick Quiz
In the spring, many people sneeze because there is a lot of _____ in the air.
Correct!
The correct answer is: pollen
Related Vocabulary
More nature words
rainforest
A1A thick forest in a tropical area that receives a large amount of rain throughout the year. It is a dense habitat known for having many different types of plants and animals.
tundra
A1A large, flat area of land in very cold parts of the world, such as the Arctic. In this area, the ground is frozen and there are no trees, only small plants like moss.
wetland
A1A wetland is an area of land that is always wet or covered with shallow water. It is a very important place where many different plants and animals, like birds and frogs, live.
coral reef
A1A coral reef is a large underwater structure made from the skeletons of small sea animals called corals. They are usually found in warm, shallow parts of the ocean and provide a home for many types of fish.
vegetation
A1Vegetation refers to all the plants and trees that grow in a particular area. It is used to describe the green cover of the earth, like forests or grass.
foliage
A1Foliage refers to the leaves of a plant or tree, considered as a group. It is often used to describe the overall appearance and mass of greenery in a landscape or forest.
canopy
A1A canopy is a cover that hangs over something, like a bed or a seat, to provide shade or protection. In nature, it is the top layer of a forest where the branches and leaves of tall trees meet to form a roof.
photosynthesis
A1Photosynthesis is the natural process that green plants use to make their own food. They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy and release oxygen into the air.
pollination
A1Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one flower to another to help plants make seeds and fruit. This is usually done by insects like bees or by the wind.
seedling
A1A seedling is a very young plant that has just started to grow from a seed. It usually has a small green stem and its first few tiny leaves.
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