shrub

¹

[ shruhb ]

noun

1. a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually having multiple permanent stems branching from or near the ground.

shrub

²

[ shruhb ]

noun

1. any of various acidulated beverages made from the juice of fruit, sugar, and other ingredients, often including alcohol.

shrub

¹

/ ʃrʌb /

noun

1. a mixed drink of rum, fruit juice, sugar, and spice
2. mixed fruit juice, sugar, and spice made commercially to be mixed with rum or other spirits

shrub

²

/ ʃrʌb /

noun

1. a woody perennial plant, smaller than a tree, with several major branches arising from near the base of the main stem

shrub

/ shrŭb /

1. A woody plant that is smaller than a tree, usually having several stems rather than a single trunk; a bush.

Derived Forms

• ˈshrubˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• shrubless adjective
• shrublike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrub¹

before 1000; Middle English shrubbe, Old English scrybb brushwood; cognate with dialectal Danish skrub

Origin of shrub²

1740–50; < Arabic, metathetic variant of shurb drink; sherbet

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrub¹

C18: from Arabic sharāb, variant of shurb drink; see sherbet

Origin of shrub²

Old English scrybb; related to Middle Low German schrubben coarse, uneven, Old Swedish skrubba to scrub ¹

Example Sentences

Pollen from cypress pine trees, which have few natural protections against fire, fell dramatically, whereas pollen from more fire-tolerant eucalyptus, shrubs, and grasses became more common.

From Science Magazine

Returning to the trail, with its soothing chorus of crickets, velvety laurel sumac shrubs and feathery wild grasses, something inside me loosened.

From Los Angeles Times

To my surprise, they actually stayed up and kept my arms protected as I whacked scratchy shrubs for several hours.

From Los Angeles Times

"A long as you don’t pull the roots out, herbs, shrubs and flowers will continue to grow," he added.

From BBC

All sorts of pines, shrubs and so much more in a region usually thought of as arid.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• foliage
• hedge
• shrubbery
• thicket
• topiary
• tree