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Definition of bough

bough

/baʊ/
bough
Plural:boughs
•
Adjective:boughed
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bough Lexical Profile

bough Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A main branch of a tree, especially one growing directly out from the trunk.

Example

"Heavy winter snow weighed down the evergreen boughs of the pine trees."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bough

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'bough' (a main tree branch) with its homophone 'bow' (to bend at the waist, or the front of a ship). In modern usage, 'bough' carries a slightly literary or poetic register compared to the everyday word 'branch'.

• Rhymes for bough

• Nearby Words

boudoir
bouffant
bougainvillea
bough
bougie
bouillon
boulder

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'bōg', meaning both a human 'shoulder or arm' and a 'tree branch', from Proto-Germanic *bōguz, which is cognate with Sanskrit 'bāhu' (arm).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bough. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bough
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