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."
"Tara flour is one of two products made from the seed pods of a thorny shrub native to Peru. One of those, tara gum, has been used safely for years as a thickening agent or stabilizer in human foods."
— Sandee LaMotte, ‘I’ve never experienced pain like that’: Consumers pay the price for untested food ingredients (2024)
verb
1
To plant or trim shrubs.
"The gardener spent the afternoon shrubbing the front border."
How to use shrub
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, bushy woody plant, distinct from a full-sized tree.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flowering shrub
trim the shrubs
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Word forms
- Plural
- shrubs
- Third person singular
- shrubs
- Past tense
- shrubbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They planted flowering _____ along the front path.
Etymology
From Old English scrybb ("shrub, underbrush").
Synonyms
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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.
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