B2 noun Neutral

blackthorn

/ˈblæk.θɔːrn/

A thorny deciduous shrub or small tree of the rose family, native to Europe and western Asia, which produces white flowers in early spring and small, bitter, dark blue fruits known as sloes. It is frequently used for creating dense, prickly hedges and is well-known for providing the wood used in traditional Irish walking sticks.

Ejemplos

3 de 5
1

The hiker accidentally scratched his arm on a sharp blackthorn branch while exploring the woods.

The person walking got a scratch from a prickly branch of the blackthorn bush in the forest.

2

Ecologists noted that the blackthorn thickets provided a crucial habitat for the local nightingale population.

Scientists observed that the dense blackthorn bushes were essential living areas for local birds.

3

Watch out for that blackthorn; it'll ruin your jacket if you get too close!

Be careful around that prickly bush because its thorns will tear your clothes.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
blackthorn
Adjetivo
blackthorn
Relacionado
sloe
💡

Truco para recordar

Think of 'Black Thorns': the plant has very dark bark (black) and very sharp spikes (thorns).

Quiz rápido

The farmer decided to plant a ______ hedge to keep intruders off his land because of its sharp spikes.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: blackthorn

Ejemplos

1

The hiker accidentally scratched his arm on a sharp blackthorn branch while exploring the woods.

everyday

The person walking got a scratch from a prickly branch of the blackthorn bush in the forest.

2

Ecologists noted that the blackthorn thickets provided a crucial habitat for the local nightingale population.

formal

Scientists observed that the dense blackthorn bushes were essential living areas for local birds.

3

Watch out for that blackthorn; it'll ruin your jacket if you get too close!

informal

Be careful around that prickly bush because its thorns will tear your clothes.

4

Botanical analysis of the site revealed a high concentration of Prunus spinosa, commonly known as blackthorn, within the hedgerows.

academic

Scientific study showed many blackthorn plants growing in the lines of bushes at the site.

5

The distillery's branding highlights the wild-harvested blackthorn berries used in their award-winning liqueur.

business

The company emphasizes the wild fruits from the blackthorn plant used in their alcoholic drink.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivo
blackthorn
Adjetivo
blackthorn
Relacionado
sloe

Colocaciones comunes

blackthorn hedge A fence made of blackthorn bushes
blackthorn walking stick A staff made from blackthorn wood
blackthorn blossom The white flowers of the blackthorn plant
blackthorn winter A cold spell when the blackthorn is in bloom
thick blackthorn A dense growth of blackthorn bushes

Frases Comunes

blackthorn winter

A period of cold weather in late spring

blackthorn stick

A traditional wooden staff

sloe-eyed

Having dark, almond-shaped eyes (related to the fruit)

Se confunde a menudo con

blackthorn vs hawthorn

Hawthorn has red berries and flowers after its leaves appear, whereas blackthorn has blue berries and flowers before leaves.

blackthorn vs sloe

Blackthorn refers to the entire plant, while sloe specifically refers to its fruit.

📝

Notas de uso

The word is most frequently used in British and Irish English, particularly in nature writing, gardening, or when discussing traditional crafts. It often carries a connotation of being hardy, wild, or protective due to its thorns.

⚠️

Errores comunes

Learners often forget that 'blackthorn' is the plant and 'sloe' is the fruit, sometimes using them interchangeably when they aren't strictly the same thing.

💡

Truco para recordar

Think of 'Black Thorns': the plant has very dark bark (black) and very sharp spikes (thorns).

📖

Origen de la palabra

From Old English 'blācthorn', combining 'blāc' (black/dark) and 'thorn' (prickly point), referring to its dark bark and thorns.

Patrones gramaticales

Countable noun Can be used as a modifier (e.g., blackthorn branch) Plural: blackthorns
🌍

Contexto cultural

In Irish culture, blackthorn is famous for being the material for the 'shillelagh', a traditional walking stick and club associated with folklore and self-defense.

Quiz rápido

The farmer decided to plant a ______ hedge to keep intruders off his land because of its sharp spikes.

¡Correcto!

La respuesta correcta es: blackthorn

Palabras relacionadas

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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