chine

/ʃiːn/

Definitions

1. noun

a long, thin, pointed branch of a tree, especially one that has been snapped off

“The hikers had to navigate through a dense thicket of chine to reach the summit.”

2. verb

to break or snap off, especially a branch of a tree

“The storm chined a large branch off the oak tree.”

Synonyms

  • sapling
  • sprig

Antonyms

  • main-stem
  • trunk