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.
Markis Hill is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025 The series stars Christie Burke (Maid) as Lt. Sharon Garnet, Richard Fleeshman (The Sandman) as Lt. James Brice, Reece Ritchie (The Outpost) as Lt. Spencer Lane (and his clone Ian), Stacey Read as life support chief Alicia Nevins and Ryan Adams as horticulture whiz Angus Medford. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 5 Mar. 2025 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 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 22 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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