bough

IPA/baʊ/
KK[bˈaʊ]IPA/baʊ/

bough — noun

  • boughsingular
  • boughsplural

1. one of the thick, heavy branches that grow from the main part of a tree

1.nounC1
Definition

one of the thick, heavy branches that grow from the main part of a tree

Example

After the storm, one heavy bough lay across the driveway all night.

heavy bough lay across the driveway

Minh hung a paper lantern from the lowest bough in the yard.

hung a lantern from the bough

Common collocations
  • low bough
  • oak bough
  • pine bough
  • bare bough
  • hang from a bough
Synonyms
  • branch

    the general everyday word; it can refer to branches of any size

  • limb

    also used for a large branch, especially one stretching outward from the trunk

Antonyms
  • trunk

    the main central part of the tree from which a bough grows

  • twig

    a much smaller and thinner branch near the outer end

Usage Note

Mostly used for the thick branches of large trees, often in descriptive writing. In ordinary everyday speech, people more often say 'branch'.

Common Mistakes

A bough grew from the rose bush by the fence.
A branch grew from the rose bush by the fence.
'Bough' is usually used for the large branches of a tree, not for a small garden bush.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Bough, branch, limb, and twig all name parts of a tree, but they suggest different sizes. Branch is the general everyday word for a part that grows out from the trunk. Bough is used for a thick, heavy branch, especially on a large tree and often in descriptive writing. Limb is also used for a large branch, especially one that spreads outward like an arm. Twig refers to a very small, thin branch near the outer end. You might say, 'Snow broke a bough from the old pine,' but 'A bird landed on a twig near the window.'

bough ↗branch ↗limb ↗twig ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • oak bough
  • pine bough
  • tree bough

Phrases

  • hang from a bough
  • sit under a bough

Etymology

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above