crown of thorns

noun

a climbing spurge, Euphorbia milii splendens, of Madagascar, having stems covered with spines.
crown-of-thorns starfish.
a painful burden, as of suffering, guilt, anxiety, etc.: from the wreath of thorns placed on Jesus' head to mock Him before He was crucified. Matt. 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2, 5.

Origin of crown of thorns

before 950; Middle English; Old English

Words nearby crown of thorns

crown imperial, crown jewels, crown land, crown lens, crown octavo, crown of thorns, crown office, crown point, crown post, crown prince, crown princess

British Dictionary definitions for crown-of-thorns

crown-of-thorns

noun

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

Cultural definitions for crown-of-thorns

crown of thorns

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)!’”

notes for crown of thorns

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.)