Definition

1. Noun:
   • A trailing blackberry bramble: "running blackberry" refers to any of several species of blackberry plants (genus Rubus) that have a trailing or creeping growth habit, as opposed to an upright, shrubby form. These plants are especially common in North America.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The running blackberry has taken over the sunny edge of the forest path.
  • We collected berries from the running blackberry, which grows close to the ground.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In botanical descriptions, "running blackberry" specifically denotes a growth form. It is often contrasted with "erect blackberry" or "shrub blackberry."
  • The field guide distinguished the running blackberry from other brambles by its long, arching canes that root at the tips.

Variants and Related Words

• Trailing blackberry (n): A common synonym for "running blackberry."
  • The trailing blackberry is known for its sweet, albeit seedy, fruit.
• Dewberry (n): A name often used for certain types of running blackberries, particularly those with fruits that ripen to a dark blue or black.
  • Some people call the running blackberry a dewberry when the fruit is especially juicy.

Synonyms

• Trailing blackberry
• Creeping blackberry

Notes on Meaning

• The term "running blackberry" is a compound noun that functions as a single unit to name a specific type of plant. Its meaning is specific to botany and horticulture and is not typically broken down into the separate meanings of "running" and "blackberry" in this context.

Noun

1. any of several trailing blackberry brambles especially of North America