crown of thorns

American  

noun

1. a succulent flowering plant, Euphorbia milii, of the spurge family, with densely spiny stems that climb and scramble over other vegetation: native to Madagascar, the species and its numerous varieties are widely cultivated for gardens and as houseplants.

2. crown-of-thorns starfish.

3. a painful burden, as of suffering, guilt, anxiety, etc.: from the wreath of thorns placed on Jesus' head in the Bible.

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crown-of-thorns British  

noun

1. a starfish, Acanthaster planci, that has a spiny test and feeds on living coral in coral reefs

2. Also called: Christ's thorn.  a thorny euphorbiaceous Madagascan shrub, Euphorbia milii var. splendens, cultivated as a hedging shrub or pot plant, having flowers with scarlet bracts

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crown of thorns Cultural  

1. A mock crown, made from thorn branches, that Roman soldiers put on the head of Jesus before the Crucifixion. The soldiers also “bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews (see also Jews)!’”

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Discover More

In common usage, a “crown of thorns” may be anything that causes intense suffering: “The jailed political leader bears her afflictions like a crown of thorns.” Similar to the expression “cross to bear.” (See Crucifixion.)

Etymology

Origin of crown of thorns

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English

Example Sentences

Like that David Fincher movie, “Grotesquerie” wraps its ills in a grimy, nocturnal film, and tops them with a crown of thorns.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was like a crown of thorns, very uncomfortable,” Grant said during a media event for the film last week, according to Metro.

From Los Angeles Times

"We found juvenile crown of thorns starfish can tolerate almost three times the heat intensity that causes coral bleaching, using a model that measures temperature over time," Professor Byrne said.

From Science Daily

Sprawling plumerias, a prickly pear cactus and a gorgeous crown of thorns stood next to a wrought iron fence.

From Los Angeles Times

“We are highly misunderstood because of stories of people wearing crowns of thorns and flogging themselves,” Martinez said.

From Los Angeles Times