brier

/ˈbraɪər/

Other forms: briers

Definitions of brier

1. noun

   a thorny stem or twig
   type of:

   branchlet, sprig, twig

   a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
2. noun

   tangled mass of prickly plants
   synonyms: brier patch, brierpatch

   type of:

   botany, flora, vegetation

   all the plant life in a particular region or period
3. noun

   Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips
   synonyms: Rosa eglanteria, briar, eglantine, sweetbriar, sweetbrier

   type of:

   rose, rosebush

   any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
4. noun

   a very prickly woody vine of the eastern United States growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries
   synonyms: Smilax rotundifolia, briar, bullbrier, catbrier, greenbrier, horse brier, horse-brier

   type of:

   vine

   a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
5. noun

   evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub having fragrant white flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots used to make tobacco pipes
   synonyms: Erica arborea, briar, tree heath

   type of:

   erica, true heath

   any plant of the genus Erica