Thorn
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /θɔːn/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Thorn is a noun meaning (botany) A modified branch that is hard and sharp like a spike.
Meaning
(botany) A modified branch that is hard and sharp like a spike.
More Meanings
- Any thorn-like structure on plants, such as the spine and the prickle.
- Any shrub or small tree that bears thorns, especially a hawthorn.
- (figurative) That which pricks or annoys; anything troublesome.
- To pierce with, or as if with, a thorn (sharp pointed object).
- A letter of Latin script (capital: Þ, small: þ), borrowed from the futhark; today used only in Icelandic to represent the voiceless dental fricative, but originally used in several early Germanic scripts, including Old English where it represented the dental fricatives that are today written th (Old English did not have phonemic voicing distinctions for fricatives).
Example Sentences
the white thorn
the cockspur thorn
See also Etymology of ye (definite article).
The guilt of empire, all its thorns and cares, / Be only mine.
Word Forms
- thorns
- thorning
- thorned
Synonyms for thorn
Depending on context, synonyms include spine, prickle, irritant.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include spine, prickle, irritant, brier, sashimi, spina.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.