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

Simple acts of letting clover grow in the lawn, planting native flowers, shrubs or trees can make a big impact for insects. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 11 May 2025

Because of their value to the food web and the fact that leafminers don’t typically cause serious or long-lasting damage to perennials, shrubs, or trees, an insecticide is not recommended or needed. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025

The three main ecosystems are the Roanoke Sound estuary, the dunes themselves and the maritime thicket where a variety of shrubs and trees grow—including bayberries, live oaks and pines—and where wildlife finds refuge. —Amy Brecount White, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2025

Millions of Californians already live in tinderbox canyons and at the edges of shrub fields and overgrown forests. —Calmatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025

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