Definition

A type of plant that produces prickly seed pods, often found in fields and along roadsides, which can stick to clothing or animal fur.

Example

The cocklebur plants grew wild along the edge of the field, their spiky fruits clinging to everything that brushed against them.

Conversation

I found a weird plant in the park yesterday.

What did it look like?

It had these prickly things that reminded me of a cocklebur.

Oh, those are annoying! They stick to everything.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cocklebur is formed from "cockle" (from Old English *coccel*, meaning a type of seed or plant) and "bur" (from Middle English *burre*, meaning a prickly seed or husk). The word refers to a plant with prickly seed pods, resembling the shape of a cockle shell.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'cockle' as a type of seed and 'bur' as a prickly husk — together, they describe a plant with prickly seed pods.

Visually Confused Words