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1

briar

noun bri·ar \ ˈbrī(-ə)r \

variants: or less commonly brier

Definition of briar

botany : a plant (such as a rose, blackberry, or greenbrier) having a usually woody and thorny or prickly stem

a thicket of briars

a briar patch

; also : a mass or twig of these

—

briary

play \ˈbrī(-ə)r-ē\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of briar

Middle English brere, from Old English brēr

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

2

briar

noun

Definition of briar

: a tobacco pipe made from the root or stem of a European heath (Erica arborea)

Origin and Etymology of briar

short for briar pipe, from briar wood of the European heath, from French bruyère heath, from Middle French bruiere, from Vulgar Latin *brucaria, from Late Latin brucus heather, of Celt origin; akin to Old Irish froech heather; akin to Greek ereikē heather

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1882

See Words from the same year

Other Wood Production Terms

cord, lumber, punk

BRIAR Defined for Kids

briar

noun bri·ar

variants: also brier \ˈbrī-ər\

Definition of briar for Students

: a plant (as the rose or blackberry) with a thorny or prickly stem

Learn More about briar

See words that rhyme with briar Spanish Central: Translation of briar Nglish: Translation of briar for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up briar? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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WORD OF THE DAY

bloviate

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to speak or write verbosely and windily

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Brian

Briand

briar

briarberry

briard

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