noun (n)

• any affliction that causes great suffering(noun.state)

  Example:
  He bears his afflictions like a crown of thorns.
  

  Synonym:
  cross
  

  source: wordnet30
• somewhat climbing bushy spurge of Madagascar having long woody spiny stems with few leaves and flowers with scarlet bracts(noun.plant)

  Synonym:
  christ plant, christ thorn, euphorbia milii
  

  source: wordnet30
• a mock crown made of thorn branches that Roman soldiers placed on Jesus before the Crucifixion(noun.artifact)

  source: wordnet30