brier

• Nom désignant une plante épineuse ou piquante, une tige ou une masse enchevêtrée de végétation, souvent associée aux roses sauvages ou aux ronces.

A noun referring to a thorny or prickly plant, stem, or tangled mass of vegetation, often associated with wild roses or brambles.

1. Thorny thicketB2formal

   A dense, tangled growth of prickly plants or shrubs.

   Fourré épineux

   • The rabbit disappeared into a thick brier.
   • They had to cut through the brier to reach the old cabin.
   • His clothes were torn by the sharp brier.

   Synonymesbramblebrushscrubthicketundergrowth

2. B2formal

   A single thorny stem or twig from a prickly plant.

   Tige épineuse

   • She pricked her finger on a brier.
   • He used a brier as a makeshift hook.
   • The path was blocked by fallen briers.

3. Eurasian rose (Rosa rubiginosa)C1formalbritishscientific

   A Eurasian rose species with prickly stems, fragrant leaves, bright pink flowers, and red hips.

   Églantier rouillé

   • The sweet brier is known for its apple-scented leaves.
   • Brier roses bloomed along the hedgerow.
   • The hips of the brier are rich in vitamin C.

   Synonymeseglantinesweetbriar

4. Greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia)C1formalamericanscientific

   A very prickly woody vine native to the eastern United States, growing in tangled masses with tough round stems, shiny leathery leaves, and clusters of inedible black berries.

   Salsepareille à feuilles rondes

   • The greenbrier vine covered the entire fence.
   • Hikers often get caught in the brier's sharp thorns.
   • The shiny black berries of the brier are not edible.

   Synonymesbullbriercatbriergreenbriersmilax

5. Tree heath (Erica arborea)C1formalscientific

   An evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub with fragrant white flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots used to make tobacco pipes.

   Bruyère arborescente

   • Brier wood is prized for making durable smoking pipes.
   • The tree heath, or brier, grows abundantly in the Mediterranean.
   • The fragrant white flowers of the brier attract many bees.

   Synonymesbriartree heath