Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×
1

briar

noun bri·ar \ ˈbrī(-ə)r \
variants: or less commonly

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

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

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

  1. 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).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

jabberwocky

play

meaningless speech or writing

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  2. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  3. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  4. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

  5. suborn 'to induce to commit perjury'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

briar

Test Your Vocabulary

Name More Food!

  • red-fruit
  • Name that Fruit!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games