bush

/bʊʃ/
a small shrub or woody plant

The garden has a beautiful bush with red flowers.

The garden contains a small woody plant with red flowers.


formal

a small shrub or woody plant, typically with many branches and leaves

She planted a bush in her backyard to attract birds.

She added a small woody plant to her backyard to attract birds.

In botany, a bush is distinguished from a tree by its smaller size and multiple stems.

informal

a dense growth of shrubs or trees, especially in a wild or uncultivated area

We got lost in the bush while hiking.

We got lost in the dense growth of shrubs and trees while hiking.

In some contexts, 'bush' can refer to a wilderness area, especially in Australia.

Collocations

bushyhaving many branches or leavesbushlandan area covered with bushes

Related Phrases

bushwhackphrase
to cut a path through dense vegetation
bush telegraphphrase
a system of spreading news or rumors quickly

Pro Tip

Bush vs. Tree

A bush is generally smaller than a tree and has multiple stems, while a tree has a single trunk.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 'bush' can vary based on context, from a small plant to a wilderness area.

Word Origin

Old English 'būsc', from Proto-Germanic 'buskaz', meaning 'bush, shrub'. Related to Dutch 'bos' and German 'Busch'.

Usage Notes

In Australian English, 'the bush' often refers to the countryside or outback.

Word Breakdown

bush
small woody plant
root
English Dictionary