épineux

== French == === Etymology === Inherited from Old French espineus, espinus, from Latin spīnōsus. Equivalent to épine +‎ -eux. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /e.pi.nø/ Rhymes: -ø === Adjective === épineux (feminine épineuse, masculine plural épineux, feminine plural épineuses) spikey; spiny (figuratively) spikey; abrasive, nettlesome (figuratively, of a person) deliberately difficult or awkward spinous, spinal ==== Derived terms ==== pomme épineuse ==== See also ==== === Noun === épineux m (invariable) thornbush === Further reading === “épineux”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 Littré, Émile (1873–1878), “épineux”, in Dictionnaire de la langue française, Paris: L. Hachette