fire thorn
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A thorny shrub of the genus Pyracantha: A type of evergreen shrub characterized by sharp thorns, clusters of small white flowers, and bright red or orange-red berries that persist into winter.
Usage Notes
- "Fire thorn" is a common name for plants in the genus . It is often written as one word: "firethorn".
- It is primarily used as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
- The name describes the plant's two most noticeable features: its sharp thorns and its brilliantly colored, fire-like berries.
Examples
- The garden's perimeter was secured by a dense hedge of fire thorn.
- Birds often feast on the berries of the fire thorn during the winter months.
- Be careful when pruning; the fire thorn lives up to its name with sharp spines.
Advanced Usage
- Horticultural Context: In gardening and landscaping, "fire thorn" is valued for its decorative berries and its effectiveness as a barrier hedge due to its thorns.
- Example: For a security planting that also provides winter color, consider the fire thorn.
Variants and Related Words
- Firethorn (n): The standard single-word spelling of the common name.
- Pyracantha (n): The scientific genus name, often used interchangeably with the common name in gardening contexts.
- Evergreen shrub (n): A general category to which fire thorn belongs.
Synonyms
- Pyracantha (This is the direct scientific synonym).
- Scarlet firethorn / Orange firethorn (Terms specifying berry color).
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Fire thorn berries: Refers specifically to the fruit of the plant.
- Example: The fire thorn berries attract many bird species.
- Fire thorn hedge: Describes a hedge made from these shrubs.
- Example: They planted a fire thorn hedge along the fence line.
Noun
- any of various thorny shrubs of the genus Pyracantha bearing small white flowers followed by hard red or orange-red berries