Bulrush: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used in British English to describe water-side plants that grow in wetlands and marshes.

• The bulrushes swayed gently in the wind along the riverbank.
• Birds often nest in bulrushes.

Generic term for any tall, grass-like plants found in wetlands. It can also be used in various specific contexts such as music (reed instruments).

• Reeds are plentiful in the pond during summer.
• The sound of a reed instrument added a unique tone to the performance.

Commonly used in American English to describe tall, reed-like plants with brown, fuzzy flower spikes, typically found in marshy areas.

• The children played hide and seek among the cattails.
• Cattails are a common sight in North American wetlands.

Refers to a type of plant historically significant for making paper in ancient Egypt. Modern usage can still denote this specific plant, often in historical or botanical discussions.

• Ancient Egyptians used papyrus to make scrolls.
• Papyrus plants lined the banks of the Nile River.

Another general term for water-loving plants, but it can also mean 'to hurry' in different contexts. As a plant, it is often used more broadly than strictly biological contexts.

• The shallow waters were filled with rushes.
• He had to rush to the store before it closed.

It can also be a symbolic term in literature or folklore, referencing the famous biblical story of Moses being hidden among the bulrushes.

• The child was laid gently in a basket and placed among the bulrushes.

This expression is often used in philosophical, ethical, or religious discussions to describe actions, behaviors, or symbols that represent modesty and a lack of arrogance.

• The monk's simple lifestyle was a living symbol of humility.
• In many cultures, the lotus flower is seen as a symbol of humility and purity.

This phrase is often used in literary or rhetorical contexts to describe a situation where someone is in a state of submission or service to another, often unwillingly. It has a negative connotation.

• He described his job as a metaphor for servitude, draining his energy and freedom.
• The novel paints the protagonist's life as a metaphor for servitude, trapped in an endless cycle of menial tasks.