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.
Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025 In the meantime, back in England, a groundbreaking experiment was about to change horticulture and world history forever, and P. annua played a central role. Ian Rose, JSTOR Daily, 26 Feb. 2025 Just in time to ring in the Year of the Snake to celebrate the Lunar New Year, which starts on Jan. 29 and is celebrated for 15 days, the horticulture team has gone all in on a dazzling display based on the sixth creature in the 12-animal zodiac, representing intuition, transformation, and charm. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2025 Before joining the museum, Bostwick worked 40 years in the San Diego Zoo’s horticulture department. Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Horticulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horticulture. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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
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