THORN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does thorn mean? 

• THORN (noun)
  The noun THORN has 3 senses:

1. something that causes irritation and annoyance

2. a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf

3. a Germanic character of runic origin

  Familiarity information: THORN used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THORN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something that causes irritation and annoyance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

irritant; thorn

Context example:

he's a thorn in my flesh

Hypernyms ("thorn" is a kind of...):

annoyance; bother; botheration; infliction; pain; pain in the ass; pain in the neck (something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

pricker; prickle; spikelet; spine; sticker; thorn

Hypernyms ("thorn" is a kind of...):

aculeus (a stiff sharp-pointed plant process)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "thorn"):

glochid; glochidium (a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti))

Derivation:

thorny (having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A Germanic character of runic origin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("thorn" is a kind of...):

rune; runic letter (any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used in Scandinavia from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages)

 Context examples 

Into this he rushed, regardless of thorns, and threw himself into the heart of it, pulling me down by his side.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We have cleared away all the old thorns that grew in patches over the brow.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“The best rose has ever the longest thorns,” said he.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They are sharp thorns, but they are such comfort.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The thorns sprung up and choked me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

This, however, none of them could ever do; for the thorns and bushes laid hold of them, as it were with hands; and there they stuck fast, and died wretchedly.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The only little thorn that comes with this flower of an eclipse involves an opposition of Pluto and Saturn to that full moon, making this full moon more emotional.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

My couch had no thorns in it that night; my solitary room no fears.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Then the all conquering Tudor had danced four times with Amy at a late party and only once with May—that was thorn number two.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch, which is the true heroine's portion; to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)