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Glite Dictionary
evergreen thorn

evergreen thorn

9.3
A shrub with sharp spines and leaves that stay green all year
  • noun
translation icon : espino perenne
  • The evergreen thorn provides year-round foliage and sharp protection for nesting birds.

Examples

  • The garden features several evergreen thorn shrubs imported from southeastern Europe.

  • The evergreen thorn is an ideal choice for creating a natural fence due to its sharp spines.

  • Experts recommend pruning the evergreen thorn to maintain its compact shape.

  • The evergreen thorn is often used in landscaping.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the evergreen thorn for its resilience.

  • Gardeners love the evergreen thorn for its beautiful, persistent green leaves throughout the year.

  • In southeastern Europe, the evergreen thorn thrives in rocky soils and provides shelter for small wildlife.

Synonyms

Crataegus oxyacantha
vsevergreen thorn
  • Specialized
9.9

A small evergreen hawthorn tree with white flowers and red berries

emphasizes sharp spines and year-round green leaves rather than fruit or flowers

Surface Forms

evergreen thorn singular
evergreen thorns plural

Morphology

evergreen + thorn

The meaning is directly compositional: 'evergreen' (plants that keep foliage year-round) modifies 'thorn' (a sharp projection), so together they denote a thorn associated with an evergreen plant. This is a literal noun-modifier combination that follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun evergreen thorn comes from how the plant looks: evergreen means it keeps green leaves all year and thorn points to its sharp spines. That's why the name describes a shrub that 'stays green' and gives 'sharp protection' all year.