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Glite Dictionary
firethorn

firethorn

1 8.9
A thorny evergreen bush that has white flowers and red or orange berries
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪərˌθɔrn/
translation icon : espino de fuego
  • Many homeowners choose to plant firethorn as a decorative hedge due to its thorny branches.

Examples

  • Firethorn berries.

    Crimson Peak (2015)

  • "The bluebird in our firethorn tree fills the merry day with glee...

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The firethorn is popular in gardens because its bright red berries attract birds.

  • In spring, the firethorn bush blooms with clusters of small white flowers.

Synonyms

Pyracantha
vsfirethorn
1 9.9

A thorny shrub with small white flowers and bright red or orange berries

is the common name rather than the formal genus label
fire thorn
vsfirethorn
8.0

A spiny bush with small white flowers and bright red or orange berries

emphasizes evergreen nature and common use for garden decoration
pyracanth
vsfirethorn
9.9

A thorny bush with small white flowers and bright red or orange berries

focuses more on ornamental planting and evergreen habit than botanical detail

Surface Forms

firethorn singular
firethorns plural

Morphology

firethorn = fire + thorn (semi-transparent) = fire + thorn

Built from recognizable words 'fire' + 'thorn' referring to a thorny plant with fiery-coloured berries, but the specific botanical reference (a shrub, Pyracantha) is a specialized meaning not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

Firethorn is a picture name: fire ('bright red or orange') and thorn ('sharp point'), so it describes a thorny shrub that bears bright, 'fiery' berries. The plant's scientific name Pyracantha also means 'fire-thorn', which helps explain the name.