thorny

Everyday

1. Having thorns — sharp, pointed parts on a stem or branch. tree →
2. Difficult, complicated and likely to cause arguments: «a thorny problem». tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature, thorny plants like roses, brambles and cacti use thorns to protect themselves from animals. In everyday and formal talk, «a thorny issue» is a hard question people argue about. Phrases: «thorny bush», «thorny issue», «thorny problem», «thorny question».

Examples

• Be careful — the rose bush is thorny. tree →
• The thorny hedge kept the sheep in. tree →
• Blackberries grow on thorny brambles. tree →
• Deciding where to go on holiday was a thorny question. tree →
• (formal) The council discussed the thorny issue of parking. tree →
• The prince cut his way through the thorny forest. tree →
• Cacti have thorny spines to protect them. tree →
• The thorny creeping plants tore her sandals, but for all that she came rapidly forward. tree →

Note

Comparative «thornier», superlative «thorniest». Adjective of «thorn». Strictly, cactus «spines» are not thorns, but in everyday speech people call them thorny. Gloves protect hands from thorny plants.