arbor

1 of 3

noun (1)

ar·​bor ˈär-bər How to pronounce arbor (audio)
: a shelter of vines or branches or of latticework covered with climbing shrubs or vines

Illustration of arbor

Illustration of arbor
  • 1arbor

arbor

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a spindle or axle of a wheel
2
: a main shaft or beam
3
: a shaft on which a revolving cutting tool is mounted
4
: a spindle on a cutting machine that holds the work to be cut

arbor-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or arbori-
: tree
arboriculture

Examples of arbor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Pam’s brother, Barry, who helped with a lot of the carpentry work; her brother Danny, and niece Sophia, who built the arbor; and Lock Construction Solutions for the patio work. nuts & bolts - Room for baby Owners: Jeff and Nicole Zoglmann. Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 8 Feb. 2024 Use an arbor knot to attach the line to the reel arbor, so the line doesn’t spin on the spool. Ric Burnley, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023 In the photo, which Hussein, 29, posted on Instagram on Friday, the royal couple is seated outside at a dining table under what looks like an arbor. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 3 July 2023 Choices for shade include patio umbrellas, mature trees, retractable awnings, or even arbors and pergolas planted with vines. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023 The arbor featured blue hydrangea, white hydrangea, and other white seasonal blooms. Town & Country, 23 Aug. 2023 The vaulted pitch of the arbor mimics the lines of the garage roof and makes the garage more background than feature. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2023 For expansive outdoor settings, gardens can include pergolas, arbors, arches or gazebos. Gina Mayfield, Dallas News, 4 Aug. 2023 Other shade solutions include permanent installations of awnings, gazebos, arbors, and pergolas. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 4 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arbor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English erber, herber garden, from Anglo-French, from herbe herb, grass

Noun (2)

Latin, tree, shaft

Combining form

Latin arbor

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arbor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near arbor

Cite this Entry

“Arbor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arbor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

arbor

noun
ar·​bor
ˈär-bər
: a shelter of vines or branches or a structure of crossed wood or metal strips covered with climbing shrubs or vines

Medical Definition

arbor

noun
ar·​bor ˈär-bər How to pronounce arbor (audio)
: a branching anatomical structure resembling a tree
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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