garland

1 of 2

noun

gar·​land ˈgär-lənd 

1

: a circular or spiral arrangement of intertwined material (such as flowers or leaves)

2

: anthology, collection

garland

2 of 2

verb

garlanded; garlanding; garlands

transitive verb

1

: to form into a garland

2

: to adorn with or as if with a garland

Examples of garland in a Sentence

Noun

They placed a garland of flowers around her neck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cedar garlands slung over the mirrors look modern and chic. —Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 2024

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom cabin, decked out in twinkling lights, lush garland and plenty of presents, is listed for $1,206,139 on the Zillow website. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Verb

Add a faux fur skirt or garland around the tree for an elevated approach to the decade. —Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024

In June there are midsommar festivals garlanded with wild flowers—mercifully unlike Midsommar, save for the maypoles that stand tall in nearly every village. —Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gerland, garlond "wreath of leaves or flowers worn as a crown," borrowed from Anglo-French garlande, gerlaunde "hair band, diadem" (continental Old French, "crown made with gold filigree"), probably from Old French *gareler "to trim with gold or silver filigree" (expansion, with -eler after such verbs as estenceler "to sparkle," of Old Low Franconian *wearōn, *wiarōn, derivative of *wiara "gold or silver filigree, ornament made of such material," going back to Germanic *wīr- "metal thread, wire") + -ande, collective noun suffix (going back to Latin -anda, neuter plural gerundive suffix) — more at stencil entry 1, wire entry 1

Note: The variant Old Low Franconian forms *weara, *wiara (corresponding to Old High German wiara "fine gold, ornament of gold filigree"), stages in the development of Germanic e², are postulated to explain the two Romance outcomes of this etymon: garlande in Old French (from *weara) and guirlanda "crown made of gold thread," first attested in Old Occitan (from *wiara, presumably progressing to *wiera as in Old High German). Old Occitan guirlanda, borrowed into Italian as ghirlanda, cycled back to French in the 16th century as guirlande, in the sense "circular arrangement of flowers or leaves."

Verb

Middle English gerlonden, garlonden, derivative of gerland garland entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

garland

1 of 2 noun

gar·​land ˈgär-lənd 

: a wreath or rope of leaves or flowers or of other material

garland

2 of 2 verb

: to form into or decorate with a garland

Geographical Definition

Garland

geographical name

Gar·​land ˈgär-lənd 

city in northeastern Texas north-northeast of Dallas population 226,876

Biographical Definition

Garland 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Gar·​land ˈgär-lənd 

(Hannibal) Hamlin 1860–1940 American novelist

Garland

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Judy 1922–1969 originally Frances Gumm American actress and singer