bramble
A prickly, scrambling shrub belonging to the rose family, typically producing blackberries or raspberries. It often grows in dense, tangled thickets that are difficult to pass through without getting caught on the thorns.
Examples
3 of 5We spent the afternoon picking ripe berries from the bramble behind the house.
We spent the afternoon picking ripe berries from the bramble behind the house.
Ecological surveys indicate that the local bramble population provides essential cover for nesting birds.
Ecological surveys indicate that the local bramble population provides essential cover for nesting birds.
Ouch! I just got my sleeve stuck in that nasty bramble.
Ouch! I just got my sleeve stuck in that nasty bramble.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Remember that 'Brambles' 'Scramble' over fences and have thorns that 'Ramble' into your skin.
Quick Quiz
The hiker had to be careful not to tear his clothes on the sharp thorns of the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Examples
We spent the afternoon picking ripe berries from the bramble behind the house.
everydayWe spent the afternoon picking ripe berries from the bramble behind the house.
Ecological surveys indicate that the local bramble population provides essential cover for nesting birds.
formalEcological surveys indicate that the local bramble population provides essential cover for nesting birds.
Ouch! I just got my sleeve stuck in that nasty bramble.
informalOuch! I just got my sleeve stuck in that nasty bramble.
The invasive nature of certain bramble species can disrupt the growth cycle of indigenous saplings.
academicThe invasive nature of certain bramble species can disrupt the growth cycle of indigenous saplings.
The property value decreased slightly due to the unmanaged bramble overgrowing the perimeter fence.
businessThe property value decreased slightly due to the unmanaged bramble overgrowing the perimeter fence.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
bramble jam
bramble jam
thick as a bramble
thick as a bramble
lost in the brambles
lost in the brambles
Often Confused With
A thistle is a herbaceous plant with sharp leaves, whereas a bramble is a woody, climbing shrub, often bearing berries.
Usage Notes
Use 'bramble' when referring to the plant as a whole or a collection of thorny bushes. It is most commonly used in British English to specifically mean a wild blackberry bush.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'bramble' to mean just a single thorn, but it actually refers to the entire plant or a dense thicket of them.
Memory Tip
Remember that 'Brambles' 'Scramble' over fences and have thorns that 'Ramble' into your skin.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English word 'brēmel', which shares roots with the word for 'broom' and refers to a prickly shrub.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the UK, 'brambling' refers to the traditional activity of foraging for wild blackberries in late summer and autumn.
Quick Quiz
The hiker had to be careful not to tear his clothes on the sharp thorns of the ___.
Correct!
The correct answer is: a
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
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arbitrator
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