THORN


Meaning of THORN in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈthȯrn ]

noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German dorn thorn, Sanskrit tṛṇa grass, blade of grass

Date: before 12th century

1. : a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (as prickles or spines) ; especially : hawthorn

2.

a. : a sharp rigid process on a plant ; specifically : a short, indurated, sharp-pointed, and leafless modified branch

b. : any of various sharp spinose structures on an animal

3. : the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives th or th and in Icelandic to represent th

4. : something that causes distress or irritation — often used in the phrase thorn in one's side

• thorned ˈthȯrnd adjective

• thorn·less ˈthȯrn-ləs adjective

• thorn·like -ˌlīk adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.