B2noun1K

Bush

UK /["/bʊʃ/"]/US /["/bʊʃ/"]/

Definition

a plant that grows thickly with several hard stems coming up from the root

In simple words: A bush is a small to medium-sized plant with many branches.

Examples

  • a rose/holly bush
  • She was hiding in the bushes at the side of the lane.
  • a large clump of rose bushes
  • to prune the rose bushes
  • Children are taught from an early age how to survive in the bush.
  • They went out into the bush.
  • hills that have become a wasteland after the removal of native bush
  • Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.

Usage notes

Use 'bush' when referring to a type of plant that's not tall like a tree. It's common in gardening contexts, but less appropriate when discussing trees or flowers specifically.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'bush' as a 'bushy' plant, full of leaves.

Collocations

  • rose
  • thorn
  • etc.
  • clump
  • plant
  • prune
  • trim
  • grow
  • among the bushes
  • in the bushes
  • bushes and trees
  • trees and bushes
  • dense
  • thick
  • African
  • fire
  • meat
  • in the bush
  • into the bush

Synonyms

  • shrub
  • hedge
  • plant
  • briar

Antonyms

  • tree
  • flower

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'shrub' - a bush is a type of shrub.
  • Using 'bushes' incorrectly in singular contexts.
  • Not distinguishing between types of bush and tree.