coniferous
adjective C2
Plain meaning
relating to trees such as pines that usually keep their leaves all year
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe relating to trees such as pines that usually keep their leaves all year, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded coniferous, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a coniferous assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a coniferous responseconiferous behavioura coniferous situation
Watch out
Do not use “very coniferous” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
coniferousness (noun, where natural)coniferously (adverb, where natural)