Bough
/baʊ/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A large branch of a tree.
/baʊ/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A main branch of a tree.
The children swung from the low-hanging bough.
💡 Simply: A big tree branch.
More Examples
2
Ivy climbed the gnarled bough of the old apple tree.
How It's Used
Nature
"The birds built their nest in the sturdy bough of the oak tree."
Literature
"The ancient bough creaked ominously in the wind."
From Old English *būh, from Proto-Germanic *būgaz (compare Dutch boog, German Bogen). Ultimately related to words meaning 'bend' or 'bow'.
Frequently used in poetry and literature to evoke imagery of nature and the outdoors.
Memory tip
Think of a 'bow' (as in archery), often made from a bent branch.
Practice
bowbou
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written