horticulture

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​ture ˈhȯr-tə-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce horticulture (audio)
: the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants
horticultural adjective
horticulturally adverb

Did you know?

Hortus is Latin for "garden", and the first gardens were planted about 10,000 years ago in what is often called the Fertile Crescent—the crescent-shaped area stretching from Israel north through Syria and down Iraq's two great rivers to the Persian Gulf. Probably more fertile in previous centuries than it is today, it was the original home of such food plants as wheat, barley, peas, and lentils or their ancient ancestors (not to mention the ancestors of cows, pigs, sheep, and goats as well). Many horticulturists today work as researchers or plant breeders or tend orchards and greenhouses—but most American households contain at least one amateur horticulturist.

Examples of horticulture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Our Expert Panel Ian Simpkins is the senior director of horticulture and sustainability at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Camryn Rabideau, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024 Hailing from Anoka, Minnesota, 44-year-old Gienger is a horticulture teacher at Anoka Technical College. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024 The Show Gardens along Main Avenue, Sanctuary and Feature Gardens explore themes through horticulture, while the All About Plants area in the Floral Marquee focuses on planting. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024 Laurel Hill hosts death cafes, bookclubs, movie screenings, even horticulture therapy to help people deal with grief. Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for horticulture 

Word History

Etymology

Latin hortus garden + English -i- + culture — more at yard

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horticulture was in 1678

Dictionary Entries Near horticulture

Cite this Entry

“Horticulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horticulture. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

horticulture

noun
hor·​ti·​cul·​ture ˈhȯrt-ə-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce horticulture (audio)
: the science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants
horticultural adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!