noun
thorn
thawn
noun
1
A sharp, hard, pointed growth on a plant stem or branch.
"She pricked her finger on a rose thorn while pruning the bush."
"The hedge was thick with thorns, making it a natural barrier."
2
A shrub or small tree known for bearing thorns, especially the hawthorn.
"A row of thorn trees lined the old country lane."
3
Something or someone that repeatedly causes irritation or trouble.
"The noisy neighbor was a constant thorn in his side."
4
An old English letter (Þ, þ) once used to represent the "th" sound, still used in Icelandic today.
"Old English texts use the letter thorn where modern English writes "th.""
verb
1
To pierce or prick with something sharp, as if with a thorn.
"The brambles thorned his arms as he pushed through the undergrowth."
How to Use Thorn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sharp spike on a plant — or, figuratively, a person or problem that keeps causing you grief.
Common mistake
In the phrase "a thorn in someone's side," it always means a persistent annoyance, not a literal injury.
Common pairings
a thorn in your side
prick of a thorn
rose thorn
thorn bush
Word Forms
thorned past tense, thorns plural, thorns singular
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She pricked her finger on a rose _____ while pruning the bush.
Etymology
From Old English þorn, going back to a very old Germanic word for a sharp spike, related to a root meaning "stiff."