bush
BUUSH
Bush (noun) means a woody plant with multiple stems, smaller than a tree. Example: “She planted a rose bush by the front gate.”
noun
1
A woody plant with multiple stems, smaller than a tree.
"She planted a rose bush by the front gate."
"A small bush near the shed is full of red berries."
"The sparrows hid in the thick bush while the cat walked past."
2
Wild, uncultivated land covered in natural vegetation, especially in Australia or Africa.
"They drove for hours through the bush before reaching the campsite."
"Our guide taught us how to find water out in the bush."
"Kangaroos are often seen at dusk at the edge of the bush."
adjective
1
Amateurish or not up to professional standard.
"That was a bush move, showing up late without calling."
"The team's sloppy passing looked pretty bush for a championship match."
"Calling the customer by the wrong name was a bit bush, wasn't it?"
How to use bush
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small woody plant, or (especially in Australian and African English) wild, undeveloped countryside.
UK vs US
"The bush" meaning wild countryside is especially common in Australian, New Zealand, and African English; less so in the UK or US.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
beat around the bush
out in the bush
a rose bush
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Word forms
- Plural
- bushes
- Third person singular
- bushes
- Past tense
- bushed
- Comparative
- more bush
- Superlative
- most bush
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She planted a rose _____ by the front gate.
Etymology
From Old English "busc"/"bysc," tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root for "bush" or "thicket," itself related to a word meaning "to grow."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bush
See all rhymes for bush →Frequently asked questions
What does “bush” mean?
The word “bush” means a woody plant with multiple stems, smaller than a tree. In plain terms, a small woody plant, or (especially in Australian and African English) wild, undeveloped countryside.
How do you pronounce “bush”?
“Bush” is pronounced BUUSH (/ˈbʊʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bush” in a sentence?
Here is “bush” used in a sentence: “She planted a rose bush by the front gate.”
What part of speech is “bush”?
Depending on how it is used, “bush” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “bush” come from?
The word “bush” comes from Old English. From Old English "busc"/"bysc," tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root for "bush" or "thicket," itself related to a word meaning "to grow.".
Is “bush” a common word?
“Bush” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “bush” have?
“Bush” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a woody plant with multiple stems, smaller than a tree.
What is the difference between a bush and a shrub?
The two words describe the same kind of plant, woody, with several stems and shorter than a tree, and are often interchangeable. "Shrub" is the more botanical, formal term, while "bush" is the everyday word and can also suggest a wilder or denser growth. Gardeners use both freely.
What is the difference between a bush and a tree?
A tree usually has a single woody trunk and grows tall, while a bush has several stems rising from near the ground and stays lower and broader. The line can blur, since some plants grow either way, but height and a single trunk are the usual markers of a tree.
What are some examples of bushes?
Familiar garden bushes include roses, hydrangeas, azaleas, boxwood, holly, lavender, and forsythia. Berry plants such as blackcurrant and gooseberry are bushes too. Many are grown for flowers, foliage, or fruit, and several are clipped into hedges around gardens and paths.
What does "the bush" mean in Australia?
In Australia and New Zealand, "the bush" refers to wild, uncultivated countryside, natural land away from towns and cities, often covered in native trees and scrub. To "go bush" means to head out into this wilderness, and "the outback" describes its most remote, arid stretches.
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