- cross, crown of thorns - any affliction that causes great suffering; "that is his cross to bear"; "he bears his afflictions like a crown of thorns"
--1 is a kind of affliction
- crown of thorns, Christ thorn, Christ plant, Euphorbia milii - somewhat climbing bushy spurge of Madagascar having long woody spiny stems with few leaves and flowers with scarlet bracts
--2 is a kind of spurge
--2 is a member of Euphorbia, genus Euphorbia - crown of thorns - a mock crown made of thorn branches that Roman soldiers placed on Jesus before the Crucifixion
--3 is a kind of crown