topiary

1 of 2

noun

to·​pi·​ary ˈtō-pē-ˌer-ē 

plural topiaries

1

a

: a plant shaped by topiary art

b

: topiary plants

2

: topiary art or gardening

also : a topiary garden

topiary

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being the practice or art of training, cutting, and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes

also : characterized by such work

Examples of topiary in a Sentence

Noun

a garden featuring topiaries and fountains

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The trees used in the topiary arts can outlive the people who plant them. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024

Their work represented contrasting ways of managing topiary and life itself. —Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024

Adjective

There are small miniatures up to topiary tree-forms and all sizes in between. —Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Dec. 2024

Until recently, there had also been a topiary cat chasing a topiary mouse, but a nearby tree had started dropping branches and killed the cat. —Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin topiarius, from topia ornamental gardening, irregular from Greek topos place

First Known Use

Noun

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

topiary

1 of 2 adjective

to·​pi·​ary ˈtō-pē-ˌer-ē 

1

a

: relating to or being the art or practice of topiary

b

: shaped or created by topiary

a topiary elephant

2

: characterized by or containing topiary

a topiary garden

topiary

2 of 2 noun

plural topiaries

1

: the art or practice of training and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes

2

: a garden or park containing plants shaped by topiary

also : a plant or plants shaped by topiary