bramble

noun

bram·​ble ˈbram-bəl How to pronounce bramble (audio)
1
: any of a genus (Rubus) of usually prickly shrubs of the rose family including the raspberries and blackberries
also : the fruit of a bramble
2
: a rough prickly shrub or vine
brambly adjective

Examples of bramble in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Learning how to spot their glint of colour, even in the deepest reaches of the brambles. Hazlitt, 6 Sep. 2023 This year, while contemplating navigating the bramble of union strike rules about what’s promotable during Hollywood’s dual writer-actor stoppages, the longtime Humanitas Prizes for screenwriters encountered an additional complication. Matt Pearce, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2023 Ping scrambles down a trail through the thick trees and brambles below West River Parkway, just north of the Lake Street-Marshall Bridge. John Branch Adam Stoltman, New York Times, 14 July 2023 Netting and brambles are laid over the top in places to obscure the contours. Tyler Hicks Marc Santora, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2023 Occasional litter, what appeared to be newspaper pages, rain-sodden, rotted, caught in brambles beside the driveway, were an eyesore, but a minor one. Joyce Carol Oates, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023 To prevent calls, strikers, shells, and other items from falling out when belly crawling or maneuvering through brambles and briars, look for pockets with a magnetic or zipper closure. Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023 The team stocked the foraging area with blackberry bramble and filled the surrounding moat with water to help keep the ants contained. Emily Anthes Todd Heisler, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2023 Garden gloves are a great way to protect yourself from thorns, brambles, and scratchy plants—and keep your hands cleaner, too. Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bramble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English brembel, from Old English brēmel; akin to Old English brōm broom

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near bramble

Cite this Entry

“Bramble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bramble. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

bramble

noun
bram·​ble ˈbram-bəl How to pronounce bramble (audio)
: any of a large genus of usually prickly shrubs (as a raspberry or blackberry) that are related to roses
brambly adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on bramble

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