n, pl  -ries  1  :  any shrub of the genus Berberis  2 a  :  an evergreen shrub of the genus Mahonia (esp. M. aquifolium)  b  :  BERBERIS 2 .
 
 Brit often US sometimes   
 
Similar sounding terms:  bear·ber·ry  beri·beri 
 
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