horticulture

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​ture ˈhȯr-tə-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants

horticultural

ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rəl 

adjective

horticulturally

ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rə-lē 

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

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

Hops and History: Introduction to Beer This 400-level horticulture course offers an introduction to all things beer. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

horticulture

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​ture ˈhȯrt-ə-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants

horticultural

ˌhȯrt-ə-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rəl 

adjective