# hawthorn

/ˈhɔˌθɔɹn/ (US) · /hˈɔːθɔːn/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hawthorn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Countable when referring to the individual tree; uncountable when referring to the wood or the species in a general botanical sense.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.