shrub

/ʃrʌb/
nounBeginner
general

A small to medium-sized woody plant with multiple stems, typically smaller than a tree and having a bushy form.

She pruned the shrubs in her front yard to keep them tidy.

She trimmed the small woody plants in her front yard to maintain their neat appearance.

💡

Shrubs are often used for landscaping and can be evergreen or deciduous.

Collocations

prune shrubsto trim or cut back shrubs to maintain their shapeevergreen shruba shrub that retains its leaves throughout the year

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Antonyms

💡Pro Tip

Landscaping Use

Shrubs are commonly used in gardens and landscapes for their aesthetic and functional benefits, such as providing privacy or attracting wildlife.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'shrubbe', possibly from Old Norse 'skryti' (bush) or Old French 'escrubbe' (scrub).

📝Usage Notes

The term 'shrub' is often used interchangeably with 'bush', though 'shrub' may imply a more formal or cultivated plant.

English Dictionary