noun
thorn
THORN/θɔːrn/
A stiff sharp projection on a plant.
A sharp, woody thorn juts out from the plant's stem.
Etymology
Old English þorn earlier named a thorny tree or shrub, especially a hawthorn. The name also came to denote the plant’s sharp points, giving the selected meaning.
In context
Prey never even sees it coming before being impaled on a thorn.
More examples
- A thorn catches on my sleeve as I pass.
- She pulls a thorn from her finger with tweezers.
- The recurring leak is a thorn in the landlord's side.
Forms
thorn · thorns
thorny adjective — Covered with thorns or sharp points.
Similar words
- spine
- A sharp plant point typically formed from a modified leaf.
- prickle
- A sharp surface outgrowth, such as those on rose stems.