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Definition of gorse

gorse

/ɡɔːrs/
gorse
Plural:gorses
•
Adjective:gorsy
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gorse Lexical Profile

gorse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A spiny evergreen shrub of the pea family (genus Ulex), native to western Europe and parts of North Africa, characterized by its bright yellow flowers and ability to thrive in poor, acidic soils.

Example

"The hikers navigated carefully to avoid the dense patches of blooming gorse that covered the rugged British moorland."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gorse

• Rhymes for gorse

• Nearby Words

gorgol
gorgonzola
gorilla
gorse
goshawk
gosling
gota

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'gors' or 'gorst', likely tracing back to an Indo-European root meaning 'to bristle' or 'rough', in reference to its sharp spines.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gorse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gorse
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