bush
/bʊʃ/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈʊʃ] /bʊʃ/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈʊʃ] /ˈbu̇sh/ (ame, mw)
bush — noun
- bushsingular
- bushesplural
1. a low, woody plant that produces many branches from its base near the ground, st
a low, woody plant that produces many branches from its base near the ground, stays shorter than most trees, and has no single main trunk.
The gardener planted a row of rose bushes along the front fence.
collocation: rose bush
A small bird built its nest deep inside the flowering bush by the window.
Wei trimmed the overgrown bushes in the back garden before the summer party.
Bright red berries covered the bushes along the path, catching the children's attention.
Thick bushes blocked the view of the neighbour's house from their kitchen window.
- tree
a tall plant with one main woody trunk
用法筆記
Countable noun. A bush is usually smaller than a tree and has several stems rather than one main trunk. In gardening, 'bush' and 'shrub' are often used interchangeably, though 'shrub' tends to be slightly more formal.
常見錯誤
2. wild, uncultivated land, found in regions such as Australia and Africa, that is
wild, uncultivated land, found in regions such as Australia and Africa, that is covered with native bushes and trees and where very few people live.
Kofi spent two weeks camping in the Australian bush and saw kangaroos in the wild.
pattern: in the bush (wilderness sense)
A bush fire swept through the dry landscape, destroying several farmhouses.
collocation: bush fire
The village lay at the edge of the bush where the paved road became a dirt track.
Emre learned to navigate through the dense bush using only the sun and the stars.
Tourists on safari were warned never to leave their vehicle while driving through the bush.
- wilderness
general term for any wild, uninhabited area, not specific to Australia/Africa
- scrubland
more specific to dry areas with low bushes
- outback
specifically the remote inland of Australia
- city
urban developed area
- cultivated land
land used for farming
文法句型
the bush
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'the' (the bush). Common in Australian, South African, and Canadian English. In New Zealand, it refers to native forest rather than scrubland. The adjectival form 'bush' (e.g. 'bush fire', 'bush plane') is also common.
常見錯誤
3. a very thick, untidy mass of hair or fur that sticks out in all directions.
a very thick, untidy mass of hair or fur that sticks out in all directions.
The old man had a wild bush of white hair that the wind always messed up even more.
pattern: a bush of [hair]
Their fluffy orange stray cat had a thick bush of fur around its neck.
Yuki tied her hair back tightly to control the unruly bush that reached past her shoulders.
The dog's thick bush of fur kept it warm through the cold winter nights.
When the wind died down, his hair fell back into its usual wild bush around his face.
文法句型
a bush of [hair/fur]
用法筆記
Used informally to describe hair that is noticeably thick, full, and slightly untidy. Similar to 'mane' but suggests more disorder. Not used for neatly styled thick hair.
常見錯誤
4. (informal) a person's pubic hair, especially when considered as a mass.
(informal) a person's pubic hair, especially when considered as a mass.
The doctor explained the normal changes in her bush during the routine health check-up.
The textbook used the medical term 'pubic hair' rather than the informal word 'bush'.
register note: informal vs. medical term
In informal conversation, some people refer to pubic hair simply as 'bush'.
Minh mentioned to the dermatologist that her bush had been itching after trying a new cream.
Sex education classes teach students the proper anatomical terms instead of slang like 'bush'.
- pubic hair
the standard medical term; neutral and appropriate in all contexts
文法句型
possessive + bush
用法筆記
This sense is informal and can be considered mildly taboo or impolite in formal conversation. The medical term 'pubic hair' is preferred in clinical or formal contexts. Teach learners to recognise this sense but use it with caution.
常見錯誤
bush — verb
- bushpresent simple I / you / we / they
- bushes3rd person singular
- bushing-ing form
- bushedpast simple
1. to support, protect, or mark the boundary of something by placing bushes or brus
to support, protect, or mark the boundary of something by placing bushes or brushwood around it.
The farmer bushed the newly planted vegetable beds to protect them from the strong wind.
pattern: bush + object (protect)
In the old days, landowners bushed their property lines using thorny local shrubs.
The garden path was bushed with lavender on both sides to create a natural border.
Coastal farmers bushed their fields with cut branches to slow down the sand from the beach.
The stream bank was bushed to prevent the cattle from trampling the soft earth.
- mark with bushes
the common phrasal equivalent
- hedge
similar but specifically means to surround with a hedge of planted shrubs
文法句型
bush + object
用法筆記
This verb sense is rare in modern English. Most speakers would use a phrase like 'mark with bushes' or 'protect with bushes' instead. Learners are unlikely to need this productively.
2. (of a plant) to grow outward in many directions, forming a round, dense shape; t
(of a plant) to grow outward in many directions, forming a round, dense shape; to become bushy.
If you pinch the tips of the stems, the plant will bush out instead of growing tall.
phrasal pattern: bush out
The lavender bushed beautifully in the warm Mediterranean sun.
After pruning, the rose bushes bushed out with new growth within a few weeks.
The basil plants will bush out more if you harvest the top leaves regularly.
The young hedge began to bush sideways, creating a thicker barrier between the two gardens.
- spread
general term for growing outward
- branch out
can be used literally for plants or figuratively for expanding activities
- grow tall
growing upward rather than outward
文法句型
bush out
用法筆記
Often used with 'out' as a phrasal verb: 'bush out'. Gardeners use this to describe how pruning or pinching back encourages a plant to grow wider and fuller rather than taller.
bush — adjective
- bushpositive
- bushercomparative
- bushestsuperlative
1. (of a plant variety) having a naturally low, compact, and dense growth habit wit
(of a plant variety) having a naturally low, compact, and dense growth habit with many stems near the ground.
The bush bean variety is easier to harvest since it stays close to the ground.
collocation: bush bean
Gardeners looking for ground cover often choose bush varieties of creeping thyme.
Bush tomatoes do not need staking because their stems stay short and sturdy.
The seed catalogue lists both climbing and bush varieties of cucumber.
A bush squash plant takes up much less space than the vining type in a small garden.
用法筆記
This is a technical gardening term used in plant descriptions and seed catalogues. Common in compound plant names like 'bush bean', 'bush tomato', 'bush cucumber', where 'bush' indicates a compact, non-climbing variety.
2. describing things found in, designed for, or associated with wild uncultivated b
describing things found in, designed for, or associated with wild uncultivated bushland, especially in Australia or Africa.
A bush pilot landed the small plane on a dirt strip deep in the outback.
collocation: bush pilot
Hana packed bush gear including a sturdy hat, long trousers, and plenty of water.
collocation: bush gear
The bush telegraph — news passed by word of mouth — spread the warning quickly.
The scout team set up a bush camp near the river with tents and a cooking fire.
Bush medicine in many rural communities relies on local plants and traditional knowledge.
- wilderness
the attributive form 'wilderness' is less common; 'wilderness area' is more official
- outback
specifically Australian
用法筆記
Attributive only — always used before a noun. Common in compound nouns such as 'bush fire', 'bush plane', 'bush pilot', 'bush camp', 'bush telegraph'. These compounds are particularly used in Australian and African English contexts.
3. falling below an acceptable standard of quality; unprofessional, crude, or amate
falling below an acceptable standard of quality; unprofessional, crude, or amateurish.
The sound quality of their first demo was so bush that no radio station would play it.
register: informal slang
Tomás called the company's customer service 'bush league' after waiting on hold for an hour.
variation: bush league (more common form)
To the experienced carpenter, building a shelf with no measuring felt completely bush.
The lighting at the small theatre was so bush that the actors performed in near-darkness.
Their bush operation used old equipment and had no proper safety procedures at all.
- amateurish
more formal; suggests lack of professional skill
- shoddy
poorly made or done; similar register
- second-rate
of inferior quality; neutral register
- professional
meeting a high standard of quality
- polished
smooth, well-finished, and refined
用法筆記
This sense comes from the baseball term 'bush league' (meaning the minor leagues, where play was considered less polished than the major leagues). The shortened form 'bush' is informal and somewhat dated but still used in North American English. 'Bush league' is more common than 'bush' alone.