Meaning & use

thorn

noun·Everyday

A small, sharp, pointed growth on the stem or branch of a plant.

See it in a sentence

A thorn from the rosebush pricked her finger as she reached for the flowers.

The hedge of thorns around the old garden kept most animals away.

A note on using this word

The idiom a thorn in someone's side describes a person or problem that causes constant, minor irritation.

Words with a similar meaning

pricklespike

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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