shrub

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈshrəb How to pronounce shrub (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsrəb
: a low usually several-stemmed woody plant
shrub-like adjective
or shrublike
ˈshrəb-ˌlīk How to pronounce shrub (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsrəb-
shrub-like plants

shrub

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: an aged blend of fruit juice, sugar, and spirits served chilled and diluted with water
2
: a beverage made by adding acidulated fruit juice to iced water

Examples of shrub in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
How to care for new trees, shrubs ▪ New trees and shrubs will demand a special form of watering. Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025 Alternative: Put a 3- to 4-inch layer of wood chips around your trees and shrubs. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025 Birds will be more likely to frequent a feeder that is a quick flight away from trees or shrubs that provide shelter and safety from predators. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 7 July 2025 For trees and shrubs, the soil should be damp from the surface down 12 inches deep, 8 inches deep for perennials and vines, 6 inches for everything else. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for shrub

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English schrobbe, from Old English scrybb brushwood; akin to Norwegian skrubbebær, a cornel of a dwarf species

Noun (2)

Arabic sharāb beverage

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrub was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shrub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrub. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

shrub

noun
ˈshrəb
: a woody plant that has several stems and is smaller than most trees

More from Merriam-Webster on shrub

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