...thorny hawthorn trees.
...the thorny issue of immigration policy...
It is essential that we tackle this thorny problem.
English dictionary. 2008.
Thorny — Thorn y, a. [Compar. {Thornier}; superl. {Thorniest}.] [Cf. AS. [thorn]orniht.] 1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown. [1913 Webster] 2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
thorny — [thôr′nē] adj. thornier, thorniest 1. full of thorns; brambly; prickly 2. having thorns or spines: said of some animals 3. like a thorn; sharp 4. full of obstacles, vexations, pain, etc. [the thorny road to peace] 5. full of controversial points … English World dictionary
thorny — [adj1] sharp, pointed barbed, briery, bristling, bristly, prickly, spiked, spiky, spinous, spiny, stinging, thistly; concept 485 Ant. dull, smooth, unpointed thorny [adj2] difficult, problematic awkward, baffling, bothersome, formidable,… … New thesaurus
thorny — index impracticable, precarious Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
thorny — O.E. þornig; see THORN (Cf. thorn) + Y (Cf. y) (2). Figurative sense is attested from mid 14c … Etymology dictionary
thorny — ► ADJECTIVE (thornier, thorniest) 1) having many thorns or thorn bushes. 2) causing distress, difficulty, or trouble … English terms dictionary
thorny — UK [ˈθɔː(r)nɪ] / US [ˈθɔrnɪ] adjective Word forms thorny : adjective thorny comparative thornier superlative thorniest 1) a thorny issue, problem, subject etc is one that is difficult to deal with the thorny issue of land ownership Now we come to … English dictionary
thorny — thorn|y [ˈθo:ni US ˈθo:rni] adj 1.) a thorny question/problem/issue etc a question etc that is complicated and difficult ▪ the thorny question of immigration policy 2.) a thorny bush, plant etc has thorns >thorniness n [U] … Dictionary of contemporary English
thorny — thorn|y [ θɔrni ] adjective 1. ) a thorny issue, problem, subject, etc. is one that is difficult to deal with: the thorny issue of land ownership Now we come to the thorny question of cost. 2. ) covered with thorns … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
thorny — adjective 1 thorny question/problem/point/issue a question etc that is complicated and difficult: The thorny question of redundancies will have to be tackled sooner or later. 2 a thorny bush, plant etc has thorns thorniness noun (U) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
