brier meaning and definition

BRIER noun

Definition of brier (noun)

1. tangled mass of prickly plants
   • synonyms: brier patch, brierpatch
2. a thorny stem or twig
3. Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips
   • synonyms: briar, eglantine, Rosa eglanteria, sweetbriar, sweetbrier
4. 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: briar, bullbrier, catbrier, greenbrier, horse brier, horse-brier, Smilax rotundifolia
5. evergreen treelike Mediterranean shrub having fragrant white flowers in large terminal panicles and hard woody roots used to make tobacco pipes
   • synonyms: briar, Erica arborea, tree heath