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 Complementing the horticulture throughout the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are a series of sculptures from international artists, including works by Auguste Rodin, Michele Oka Doner, and Ai Weiwei. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024 Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 There are people in the world of horticulture that feel one of the greatest sins in life is planting a non-native plant. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2024 Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture extension specialist for the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University, says that a 3 x 3 x 3-foot compost setup is a good place to start in order to maintain the ideal balance of moisture and heat. Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024 Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with the Kansas State University Research and Extension. Dennis Patton, Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2024 The school building will accommodate between 2,000 to 2,200 students and will feature dedicated spaces for Dulaney’s programs like HVAC, engineering, computer science, food science and horticulture, along with the regional FALS and CALS special education programs. Melissa Whatley, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2024 This was also a thoughtful nod to her father-in-law’s love of nature, gardening, and horticulture, and reflected the motif, used throughout the coronation, of the Green Man—an ancient figure from British folklore, who wears a crown made of emblematic flowers and oak, ivy, and hawthorn. Emma Spedding, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2023 And that popularity was one factor considered by the NGB’s 160 members — leading companies and individuals in the horticulture field — when voting to spotlight the plant in the houseplant category, the nonprofit’s executive director, Diane M. Blazek, told me. Jessica Damiano, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'horticulture.' 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

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 19 Mar. 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!