burning bush

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

burn′ing bush′, 

1. Plant Biology, Bible [Bible.] a bush that "burned with fire and … was not consumed,'' from which an angel spoke to Moses. (Ex. 3:2).
2. Plant Biology Also called firebush, summer cypress. a shrubby plant, Kochia scoparia, of the goosefoot family, having dense, feathery foliage that turns red in fall.
3. Plant Biology any of various plants of the genus Euonymus having bright red foliage in autumn.
• 1775–85 as a plant name

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

burning bush noun

1. a rutaceous shrub, Dictamnus fraxinella, of S Europe and Asia, whose glands release a volatile inflammable oil that can burn without harming the plant: identified as the bush from which God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:2–4)
2. any of several shrubs or trees, esp the wahoo, that have bright red fruits or seeds
3. another name for gas plant
4. any of several plants, esp kochia, with a bright red autumn foliage