Home › Glossary › Letter B

bough

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A bough is a large branch of a tree, often symbolizing growth and nature.

Detailed Definition
The term 'bough' refers to a large branch of a tree, typically one that is strong and supportive. In literature, boughs often symbolize nature's bounty and the interconnectedness of life. In the poem, the phrase 'bent that magic bough' suggests a moment of choice and consequence, linking the act of bending the bough to the loss of innocence and the sweetness of temptation.
Example
Example in poetry:
"Oh, had I never bent that magic bough" (branch used for divination); "The bough of the ancient oak" (nature); "A willow bough droops low" (pastoral); "The cherry bough in blossom" (spring); "He broke a bough for a staff" (practical)
Additional Notes
The word 'bough' is used to evoke imagery of nature and the pivotal moment of temptation in the poem.; Found in the poem, To a Garden by Violet Fane
Other Meanings of “bough”
Also Known As
tree limb leafy branch woodland arm verdant shoot
Skip to main content