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noun Uncommon

shrub

SHRUHB

Shrub (noun) means a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with several stems growing from its base. Example: “They planted flowering shrubs along the front path.”

noun
1
A woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with several stems growing from its base.
"They planted flowering shrubs along the front path."
verb
1
To plant or trim shrubs.
"The gardener spent the afternoon shrubbing the front border."

How to Use Shrub

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small, bushy woody plant, distinct from a full-sized tree.

Common pairings
flowering shrub trim the shrubs

Word Forms

shrubbed past tense, shrubbed past tense, shrubbed past tense, shrubs plural, shrubs plural, shrubs plural, shrubs singular, shrubs singular, shrubs singular

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They planted flowering _____ along the front path.

Etymology

From Old English scrybb ("shrub, underbrush").

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for shrub

See all rhymes for shrub →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “shrub” mean?

The word “shrub” means a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with several stems growing from its base. In plain terms, a small, bushy woody plant, distinct from a full-sized tree.

How do you pronounce “shrub”?

“Shrub” is pronounced SHRUHB (/ˈʃɹʌb/ in IPA).

How do you use “shrub” in a sentence?

Here is “shrub” used in a sentence: “They planted flowering shrubs along the front path.”

What part of speech is “shrub”?

Depending on how it is used, “shrub” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “shrub” come from?

The word “shrub” comes from Old English. From Old English scrybb ("shrub, underbrush").

Is “shrub” a common word?

“Shrub” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “shrub” have?

“Shrub” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually with several stems growing from its base.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial