Thorn
noun
A sharp point on some plants.
Be careful, that rose has thorns.
Often appears as...
- rose thorn
- thorn in the flesh
noun
Someone or something that causes trouble or makes you unhappy.
He has always been a thorn in my side.
Often appears as...
- thorn in my side
- thorn in their flesh
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A letter of the Old English and Icelandic alphabets, þ.
The Old English word 'þorn' is nowadays written as 'thorn'.
Often appears as...
- thorn letter
- old english thorn
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A sharp point on some plants.
Be careful, that rose has thorns.
Often appears as...
- rose thorn
- thorn in the flesh
noun
Someone or something that causes trouble or makes you unhappy.
He has always been a thorn in my side.
Often appears as...
- thorn in my side
- thorn in their flesh
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A letter of the Old English and Icelandic alphabets, þ.
The Old English word 'þorn' is nowadays written as 'thorn'.
Often appears as...
- thorn letter
- old english thorn
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Part of Plant
Thorn specifically refers to sharp extensions on plants, not sharp objects in general.
Roses and cacti are common plants known for their thorns.
Pro Tip 2/3Painful Touch
Thorns can prick your skin, so approach with caution when dealing with thorny plants.
I accidentally pricked my finger on a thorn while gardening.
Pro Tip 3/3Natural Defense
Plants have thorns as a defense mechanism to protect from herbivores.
The thorns on that bush protect it from being eaten by animals.
Pro Tip 1/3Part of Plant
Thorn specifically refers to sharp extensions on plants, not sharp objects in general.
Roses and cacti are common plants known for their thorns.
Pro Tip 2/3Painful Touch
Thorns can prick your skin, so approach with caution when dealing with thorny plants.
I accidentally pricked my finger on a thorn while gardening.
Pro Tip 3/3Natural Defense
Plants have thorns as a defense mechanism to protect from herbivores.
The thorns on that bush protect it from being eaten by animals.
Pro Tip 1/3Part of Plant
Thorn specifically refers to sharp extensions on plants, not sharp objects in general.
Roses and cacti are common plants known for their thorns.
Pro Tip 2/3Painful Touch
Thorns can prick your skin, so approach with caution when dealing with thorny plants.
I accidentally pricked my finger on a thorn while gardening.
Pro Tip 3/3Natural Defense
Plants have thorns as a defense mechanism to protect from herbivores.
The thorns on that bush protect it from being eaten by animals.
Never forget "Thorn"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
What I've learned about...
And you start making footprints for the next generation to walk in. See, we're walking on a certain path, as parents. We're all in this together. No one can deny that family is one of the biggest foundations in anyone's life. And we're all walking on this path, and we're pulling these thickets out of the way, and these thorns,
Video examples
The politics of fiction...
Then one by one, she would encircle these thorns with dark ink. A week later, the patient would come back for a follow-up examination. Now, I'm aware that I should not be saying such things in front of an audience of scholars and scientists, but the truth is, of all the people
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 261 PIPE...
sometimes doing like this and they take off the thorns there so lepers they are not like the baboons which can be able to groom each other and help each other when they are thorns so they have got to use their teeth in order to get rid of
Video examples
Inside Notre Dame PIPE The...
with bare feet only a shirt on him and he said well i'm the most powerful king on earth but i'm nothing in comparison to the true king my crown is of gold but his crown is a true one it was made of thorns so it was very
Video examples
Maryn McKenna: What do...
and doctors had to take out an eye, was infected by doing something very simple. He walked into his garden and scratched his face on a thorn. That British project I mentioned which estimates that the worldwide toll
Video examples
The amazing ways plants...
to warn would-be predators. Thorns, spines, and prickles discourage bigger herbivores. To deal with smaller pests, some plants' leaves have sharp hair-like structures called trichomes.
Video examples
Amazing Symbiosis: Ant...
shares with an ant the swollen thorn acacia and its namesake the acacia ant have developed harmonious roles in each other's lives the anthro is as protector if any of
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 276 PIPE...
universe fortunately the thorns by the trees don't really affect the elephants and the inner parts of the elephant mouth is adapted to eat this kind of
Video examples
Lovebirds PIPE National...
here in an umbrella thorn tree in tanzania africa some fishers lovebirds are looking for a nice hollow in which to nest and raise their yacht
Video examples
Titan Triggerfish...
although the crown of thorns is well protected on top it has a soft underside
Video examples
What I've learned about...
And you start making footprints for the next generation to walk in. See, we're walking on a certain path, as parents. We're all in this together. No one can deny that family is one of the biggest foundations in anyone's life. And we're all walking on this path, and we're pulling these thickets out of the way, and these thorns,
Video examples
The politics of fiction...
Then one by one, she would encircle these thorns with dark ink. A week later, the patient would come back for a follow-up examination. Now, I'm aware that I should not be saying such things in front of an audience of scholars and scientists, but the truth is, of all the people
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 261 PIPE...
sometimes doing like this and they take off the thorns there so lepers they are not like the baboons which can be able to groom each other and help each other when they are thorns so they have got to use their teeth in order to get rid of
Video examples
Inside Notre Dame PIPE The...
with bare feet only a shirt on him and he said well i'm the most powerful king on earth but i'm nothing in comparison to the true king my crown is of gold but his crown is a true one it was made of thorns so it was very
Video examples
Maryn McKenna: What do...
and doctors had to take out an eye, was infected by doing something very simple. He walked into his garden and scratched his face on a thorn. That British project I mentioned which estimates that the worldwide toll
Video examples
The amazing ways plants...
to warn would-be predators. Thorns, spines, and prickles discourage bigger herbivores. To deal with smaller pests, some plants' leaves have sharp hair-like structures called trichomes.
Video examples
Amazing Symbiosis: Ant...
shares with an ant the swollen thorn acacia and its namesake the acacia ant have developed harmonious roles in each other's lives the anthro is as protector if any of
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 276 PIPE...
universe fortunately the thorns by the trees don't really affect the elephants and the inner parts of the elephant mouth is adapted to eat this kind of
Video examples
Lovebirds PIPE National...
here in an umbrella thorn tree in tanzania africa some fishers lovebirds are looking for a nice hollow in which to nest and raise their yacht
Video examples
Titan Triggerfish...
although the crown of thorns is well protected on top it has a soft underside
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jan Karon
American Writer
My life is extremely full and wretchedly busy, and I feel that while my life drains energy from my work, my work in turn drains energy from my life. The result is, I am always playing catch-up spiritually. That is my thorn.
Quote examples
Hugo Chavez
Statesman
Give me your crown, Jesus. Give me your cross, your thorns, so that I may bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these people.
Quote examples
Pope Francis
Argentinian Clergyman
Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Anwar
English Actress
I've been hounded by a reputation of being difficult when really what I'm being is truthful and honest. And I think that's been a thorn in my side.
Quote examples
Khalil Gibran
Lebanese Poet
Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood.
Quote examples
Patti Smith
American Musician
I want to be around a really long time. I want to be a thorn in the side of everything as long as possible.
Quote examples
Theodore Bikel
Austrian Actor
In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and a serious obstacle to peace.
Quote examples
James Russell Lowell
American Poet
One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.
Quote examples
Bret Michaels
American Musician
My life is part humor, part roses, part thorns.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
Truths and roses have thorns about them.
Quote examples
Jan Karon
American Writer
My life is extremely full and wretchedly busy, and I feel that while my life drains energy from my work, my work in turn drains energy from my life. The result is, I am always playing catch-up spiritually. That is my thorn.
Quote examples
Hugo Chavez
Statesman
Give me your crown, Jesus. Give me your cross, your thorns, so that I may bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these people.
Quote examples
Pope Francis
Argentinian Clergyman
Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Anwar
English Actress
I've been hounded by a reputation of being difficult when really what I'm being is truthful and honest. And I think that's been a thorn in my side.
Quote examples
Khalil Gibran
Lebanese Poet
Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood.
Quote examples
Patti Smith
American Musician
I want to be around a really long time. I want to be a thorn in the side of everything as long as possible.
Quote examples
Theodore Bikel
Austrian Actor
In my mind the city of Ariel is a thorn in Israel's side and a serious obstacle to peace.
Quote examples
James Russell Lowell
American Poet
One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.
Quote examples
Bret Michaels
American Musician
My life is part humor, part roses, part thorns.
Quote examples
Henry David Thoreau
American Author
Truths and roses have thorns about them.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension