bough

noun

ˈbau̇ How to pronounce bough (audio)
Definition of boughnext
as in branch
a major outgrowth from the main stem of a woody plant a tree bough fell on my car during the windstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bough Laying the boughs over perennial beds for the winter to afford them protection from cold and wind. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026 Spray the underside of the branches, focusing on the cut ends of the boughs, Hunter says, because that’s where the moisture can be absorbed the fastest. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025 Saturnalia, in honor of the sun god, Saturn, included decorating homes with evergreen boughs, wreaths and garlands to symbolize renewal. — Scott Neuman, NPR, 17 Dec. 2025 Gleaming in the boughs were pearlescent apples. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bough
  1. branch
  2. limb
Noun
  • At first glance, corals present as little more than colorful rocks — piles of lobes, stalagmites, and branches poking out from the seafloor.
    — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
  • These are structures that branch repeatedly into finer and finer filaments, ending in a tuft-like crown of nanofibers.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of branch
Noun
  • Many people with vibriosis can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Debris Tree limbs, broken glass, metal, trash, or other materials could fall into or around the water during a storm.
    — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of limb

Browse Nearby Words

bottoms
bough
boughs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bough. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bough

Nglish: Translation of bough for Spanish Speakers

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