Quality-approved learning entrynounLevel B2

barberry

A thorny shrub that bears small, often red or orange berries.

IPAUK /ˈbɑː.bər.i/US /ˈbɑːr.ber.i/

Stress the first syllable, BAR.

Meaning 1neutral · 85%

A thorny shrub that bears small, often red or orange berries.

A barberry makes an effective thorny hedge.

The team found barberry growing along the path.

Several barberries were planted beside the fence.

Barberry can name the plant; barberry bush avoids ambiguity with its edible fruit.

barberry bush — a thorny shrub that produces small berries — a hedge made from barberry shrubs

barberry hedge

In gardening, barberry can mean a thorny shrub; barberries can also mean the small berries from it.

Choose one answer.

What sort of plant is a barberry?

Meaning 2neutral · 85%

The chef scattered barberries over the rice.

I need dried barberries for tonight’s dinner.

A single barberry tastes pleasantly tart.

In food contexts, barberries usually refers to the small edible berries, often sold dried.

dried barberries — small sour berries preserved by dryingbarberry rice — rice served with tart barberries

For cooking, use dried barberries or a handful of barberries; their taste is tart, not sweet.

Choose one answer.

Why might someone add barberries to rice?