garden

[ gahr-dn ]
See synonyms for garden on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a plot of ground, usually near a house, where flowers, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, or herbs are cultivated.

  2. a piece of ground or other space, commonly with ornamental plants, trees, etc., used as a park or other public recreation area: a public garden.

  1. a fertile and delightful spot or region.

  2. British. yard2 (def. 1).

adjective
  1. pertaining to, produced in, or suitable for cultivation or use in a garden: fresh garden vegetables; garden furniture.

verb (used without object)
  1. to lay out, cultivate, or tend a garden.

verb (used with object)
  1. to cultivate as a garden.

Idioms about garden

  1. lead up / down the garden path, to deceive or mislead in an enticing way; lead on; delude: The voters had been led up the garden path too often to take a candidate's promises seriously.

Origin of garden

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gardin, from Old North French gardin, Old French jardin, from Germanic; compare Old High German gartin-, German Garten; see also yard2

Other words from garden

  • gar·den·a·ble, adjective
  • gar·den·less, adjective
  • gar·den·like, adjective
  • un·gar·dened, adjective
  • well-gardened, adjective

Words Nearby garden

Other definitions for Garden (2 of 2)

Garden
[ gahr-dn ]

noun
  1. Alexander, 1730?–91, U.S. naturalist, born in Scotland.

  2. Mary, 1877–1967, U.S. soprano.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use garden in a sentence

  • It ended on a complaint that she was 'tired rather and spending my time at full length on a deck-chair in the garden.'

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • Ten minutes later, veiled and cloaked, she stepped out alone into the garden.

    Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett
  • It goes without saying that Ferns of all kinds are interesting plants to grow in the garden and house.

    How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard Bastin
  • Of course it is only the hardiest Ferns which can be expected to grow well in the town garden.

    How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard Bastin
  • In such conditions many kinds which do not flourish very freely in the open garden, grow into handsome specimens.

    How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard Bastin

British Dictionary definitions for garden

garden

/ (ˈɡɑːdən) /


noun
  1. British

    • an area of land, usually planted with grass, trees, flowerbeds, etc, adjoining a house: US and Canadian word: yard

    • (as modifier): a garden chair

    • an area of land used for the cultivation of ornamental plants, herbs, fruit, vegetables, trees, etc

    • (as modifier): garden tools Related adjective: horticultural

  1. (often plural) such an area of land that is open to the public, sometimes part of a park: botanical gardens

    • a fertile and beautiful region

    • (as modifier): a garden paradise

  2. (modifier) provided with or surrounded by a garden or gardens: a garden flat

  3. lead a person up the garden path informal to mislead or deceive a person

adjective
  1. common or garden informal ordinary; unexceptional

verb
  1. to work in, cultivate, or take care of (a garden, plot of land, etc)

Origin of garden

1
C14: from Old French gardin, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German gart enclosure; see yard ² (sense 1)

Derived forms of garden

  • gardenless, adjective
  • garden-like, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with garden

garden

In addition to the idiom beginning with garden

  • garden variety

also see:

  • lead down the garden path

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.