whitethorn

9.5

A shrub or small tree with sharp thorns, white flowers, and red berries

noun
/ˈhwaɪtˌθɔrn/

: espino blanco

During our hike, we spotted a whitethorn tree laden with bright red berries along the trail.

Examples

In early spring, the whitethorn trees burst into clusters of beautiful white blossoms, signaling the end of winter.
On the other side, the lion holds the lady's coat of arms in a red sea of flowers, rabbits, falcons, and whitethorn.

Fiction book (1995)
The garden was full of blooming whitethorn bushes, attracting bees with their fragrant white flowers.

Synonyms

Crataegus laevigata

vswhitethorn

Specialized

9.9

A small thorny tree with groups of white flowers and red berries

is the common general name used instead of the species label

Crataegus oxycantha

vswhitethorn

Specialized

9.9

A thorny hawthorn shrub or small tree with white to red flowers and bright red berries

is only sometimes naturalized rather than firmly established there

English hawthorn

vswhitethorn

7.2

A thorny shrub with white or red flowers and bright red berries used for hedges

is the wild or general shrub rather than a planted hedge use

may

vswhitethorn

9.1

A thorny bush or small tree with white flowers and red berries

is the more scientific species label rather than the informal common names

Surface Forms

whitethorn singular

whitethorns plural

Morphology

whitethorn = white + thorn (transparent) = white + thorn

A direct compound of two common words whose combined meaning ('a thorny plant with white flowers or white‑colored thorns') is clear to learners.

Etymology

Whitethorn comes from the simple parts white ('white') and thorn ('sharp point'), because this bush is known for its white flowers and sharp branches. So the name helps you remember it is a thorny plant with white blooms and red berries.