fire thorn
- noun
- /ˈfaɪər θɔrn/
:
espino de fuego
- The fire thorn is popular in gardens for its vibrant berries and dense foliage.
Examples
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She planted a hedge of fire thorn to add color and security to her yard.
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Birds are attracted to the bright berries of the fire thorn in autumn.
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The fire thorn is known for its stunning red berries.
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I planted a fire thorn in my garden last spring.
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The fire thorn produces bright red berries that attract many birds to the garden.
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For added security, she decided to plant a hedge of fire thorn around her property.
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The fire thorn is often chosen for landscaping due to its attractive flowers and berries.
Synonyms
2
2.9
A bush with many sharp points that often forms a thick barrier
1
9.9
A thorny shrub with small white flowers and bright red or orange berries
1
8.9
A thorny evergreen bush that has white flowers and red or orange berries
A thorny bush with small white flowers and bright red or orange berries
Surface Forms
Morphology
fire + thorn
The compound pairs 'thorn' (a sharp plant projection) with 'fire', which can plausibly cue a fiery/red quality; a B1 learner who knows both words could reasonably infer this refers to a spiny plant with bright/red/orange features. However, the specific botanical identity (Pyracantha) and conventionalized use as a plant name are lexicalized and not fully predictable from the parts, so understanding is only partial without prior exposure.
Etymology
Fire thorn comes from the plant's bright red or orange berries and its sharp branches. The word fire makes you think of little flames on the bush and thorn shows it has sharp points, so the name helps you remember it is a thorny shrub with bright, flame-like berries.