Word
hawthorn
US/ˈhɔˌθɔɹn/
UK/hˈɔːθɔːn/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a small tree or bush with sharp thorns, white or pink flowers, and small red berries. You often see it used to make hedges in the countryside.
n. a thorny shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus, belonging to the rose family. It typically produces white or pink blossoms in spring followed by small, red, pome-like fruits known as haws.
Examples
“The white flowers of the hawthorn bloom in May.”
“Farmers often plant hawthorn to create thick, thorny hedges that keep livestock from wandering off the property.”
“The ancient hawthorn stood alone in the middle of the field, its gnarled branches twisted by decades of wind and its thorns hidden beneath a thick layer of spring blossoms.”
Examples
simple
“The white flowers of the hawthorn bloom in May.”
contextual
“Farmers often plant hawthorn to create thick, thorny hedges that keep livestock from wandering off the property.”
complex
“The ancient hawthorn stood alone in the middle of the field, its gnarled branches twisted by decades of wind and its thorns hidden beneath a thick layer of spring blossoms.”
Usage
Countable when referring to the individual tree; uncountable when referring to the wood or the species in a general botanical sense.
Real-World Examples
“A beautiful-looking hawthorn bush can have a very unpleasant smell—somewhere between fish and urine.” “Hawthorn and rowan are also ripening early in some parts of the country, where early leaf tinting has also been observed.” “On a fine spring day, I left the M1 at junction 14 and followed the broad dual-carriageway of the H5 grid-road into MK between banks of primroses and bright-green hawthorn.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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