shrub

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈshrəb 

especially Southern ˈsrəb

: a low usually several-stemmed woody plant

shrub-like adjective

or shrublike

ˈshrəb-ˌlīk 

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

Noun

Hanging a bar of soap is the simplest method and is ideal for gardens with trees, shrubs, and fences. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026

Trim trees and shrubs to give your lawn adequate sunlight, maintain a fertilization program, and water regularly and deeply. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026

The Frankfort Rotary Club donated money for the Grassland volunteers could to buy 12 shrubs. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

Maintain a 1- to 2-inch mulch layer over tree and shrub roots to help conserve moisture. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for shrub

• bub
• club
• cub
• dub
• grub
• hub
• nub
• pub
• rub
• scrub
• snub
• stub

Kids Definition

shrub

noun

ˈshrəb

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