Meaning & use
thorn
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Meanings
nouncountable
A small, sharp, pointed growth on the stem or branch of a plant.
Grammar: Countable: one thorn, two thorns.
Patterns
- a thorn in something
- thorn bushes
Be careful of the thorns on that rose bush.
He got a thorn stuck in his finger while gardening.
The hedge was full of sharp thorns.
nouncountablefigurative
A person or thing that causes continuous trouble or annoyance.
Grammar: Often used in the idiom 'a thorn in someone's side'.
Patterns
- a thorn in someone's side
- a thorn in the side of something
The new regulations have been a thorn in the side of small businesses.
He's been a thorn in my side since he arrived.
Word forms
| plural | thorns |
|---|
Common combinations
- a thorn in someone's side
- The constant delays were a thorn in the manager's side.
- thorn bush
- The path was blocked by a dense thorn bush.
- thorn in the flesh
- The problem became a thorn in the flesh for the whole team.
- sharp thorn
- She pricked her finger on a sharp thorn.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- thorny adjective
- Full of thorns; also used figuratively for difficult issues.
- thornless adjective
- Without thorns.
Commonly confused: thorn or horn?
thorn vs horn
A horn is a hard growth on an animal's head; a thorn is a sharp point on a plant.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'thorn' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Thorn' is the correct term for the sharp growths on a rose bush. 'Horns' are on animals; 'spines' are usually on cacti or other plants, not roses.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thorn”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.