English Reference

Word

bush

US/ˈbʊʃ/

UK/bˈʊʃ/

Definition

n. a plant that is smaller than a tree and has many wooden stems growing from the ground. You often see them in gardens or parks as low walls of green leaves.

n. a low-growing woody plant with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. Often used as a synonym for 'shrub' in general contexts.

Examples

“The gardener trims the bush every spring.”

“We planted a thick rose bush near the front gate to add some color to the garden.”

“The landscape architect recommended planting a native bush species that could withstand the local drought conditions while providing a natural privacy screen for the patio.”

Examples

simple

“The gardener trims the bush every spring.”

contextual

“We planted a thick rose bush near the front gate to add some color to the garden.”

complex

“The landscape architect recommended planting a native bush species that could withstand the local drought conditions while providing a natural privacy screen for the patio.”

Real-World Examples

“Across Britain and Europe, a rosemary bush in the garden was supposed to protect from witches who attacked at night.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 15 Sept 2026
“In the garden of his primary school in Birmingham, two apple trees and a rose bush have been planted in her memory.”
The Guardian · 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

Either the family name for those who live near a bush or a thicket of bushes, or the family name for those living at or near a bush (in the archaic sense of wine merchant or tavern).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

bushNounbushyAdjective

Idioms

beat around the bush — To treat a topic, but omit its main points, often intentionally.

beat the bushes — Synonym of pound the pavement (“to campaign diligently; to seek something”).

bush league — A professional sports association at the lower levels of minor league organization.

bush telegraph — A system used by undeveloped societies in remote regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds, word-of-mouth relay, or smoke signals.

Domain

Horticulture

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference