/ θɔːn; NAmE θɔːrn/ noun
1.
a small sharp pointed part on the stem of some plants, such as roses
—picture at plant
2.
a tree or bush that has thorns
—see also blackthorn , hawthorn
3.
( phonetics ) the letter that was used in Old English and Icelandic to represent the sounds /ɵ/ and /ð/ and later written as th
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IDIOMS
- a thorn in sb's flesh / side
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doorn and German Dorn .