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Definition of thorn
thorn
/θɔːrn/
thorn
Plural:thorns
•Adjective:thorny
thorn Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
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• noun
1
A stiff, sharp-pointed, woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant.
Example
"She accidentally pricked her finger on a rose thorn while gathering flowers from the garden."
2
A constant source of annoyance, distress, or grief.
Example
"The unresolved property dispute remained a persistent thorn in the side of the local council."
3
A runic letter (Þ, þ) used in Old English, Middle English, and modern Icelandic alphabets to represent either the voiceless or voiced dental fricative 'th' sound.
Example
"When reading medieval English manuscripts, modern students often confuse the letter thorn with the letter 'y'."
Synonyms
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Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'þorn', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'doorn' and German 'Dorn', from an Indo-European root meaning 'stiff' or 'sharp'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Thorn. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/thorn