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thorn Definition

thorn (t̸hôrn)

noun

    1. a very short, hard, leafless branch or stem with a sharp point
    2. any small tree or shrub bearing thorns, as a hawthorn
    3. the wood of any of these trees
    4. prickle
  2. a sharp, pointed protuberance on an animal; spine
  3. anything that keeps troubling, vexing, or irritating one, like a constantly pricking thorn
    usually in the phrase thorn in one's side (or flesh) thorn in one's side (or flesh)
  4. a rune in the Old English and Old Norse alphabets (þ), used to represent the voiced or voiceless apicodental fricative: in Middle English orthography it was gradually replaced by th

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger dorn < IE *(s)ter-, prickly plant (< base *ster-, to be stiff) > Gr ternax, cactus stem

thorn Synonyms

thorn

n.

prickle, spine, brier, briar, nettle, bramble, barb, thistle; see also point 2, spine 1.

thorn Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • prove: Babylon had always proved a thorn in the side of the Assyrian Empire.
  • stick: If a thorn stuck in the foot is such a difficult thing to find... thorn in the heart is how much more?
  • remove: A tame lion, from whose paw he is said to have removed a thorn, is often present.. .
  • remain: A YouGov poll for The Daily Telegraph on Friday showed that the " trust " factor remains a thorn in Blair's side.
  • become: Whatever the personal perceptions of these people, few believe they were chosen to become thorns in the side of the establishment.
  • produce: In Genesis 3:17-19 the ground is cursed by God to produce thorns which will make people's working of the land much harder.

Adjective modifier

  • vicious: This is of course due to the vicious thorns, which are not to be taken lightly.
  • constant: New signing Danny was a constant thorn in their side.
  • sharp: Many species have sharp thorns to protect the foliage from browsing animals.
  • real: The month of September highlighted a problem which turned into a real thorn in Palace's side - drawing.
  • big: The ' witness ' concept is like a big thorn, used to remove the little thorn of petty ego.
  • large: There was a large thorn deeply embedded in the bottom of the foot.

Modifies a noun

  • bush: A small thorn bush grows out of the base of a wide crack.
  • savanna: Day 8 Today we depart early, heading for progressively drier thorn savanna in this remote southern section of Ethiopia.
  • scrub: Steep hillside thorn scrub, some cactus, farmer's field nearby.
  • hedge: A thorn hedge stood right across the path which he had known from a child.
  • tree: Visitors to St Mary's Quad can still see a thorn tree said to have been planted by Mary Queen of Scots.
  • forest: Uxmal is a famous site of impressive Maya ruins amid deciduous thorn forest.

Preposition: in

  • side: Sister Sarah was the thorn in the side of every prison Governor in the country.
thorn Quotes

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the L for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

—Bible (Old Testament)

And my fause Luver staw my rose, But, ah! he left the thorn wi'me.

—Burns, Robert

Of all the trees that grow so fair, Old England to adorn, Greater are none beneath the Sun, Than Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

England shall bide till Judgement Tide By Oak, and Ash, and Thorn.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

  A weary lot is thine, fair maid, A weary lot is thine! To pull the thorn thy brow to braid, And press the rue for wine!

—Scott, Sir Walter

The year's at the spring, And days at the morn; Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew-pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in His heavenö All's right with the world.

—Browning, Robert

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose.

—Milton,John