WordGarden.iobotanical
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bətˈænɪkəl/
US
- /bəˈtænɪkəl/
Meanings
Adjective
relating to plants or the scientific study of plants
Noun
a plant-derived ingredient or preparation
Beyond the definition
The word "botanical" comes from the ancient Greek botanē, meaning herb, and it still carries that connection to the world of plants. It describes anything related to plants—their study, their use, or even their aesthetic beauty. You can call a garden "botanical" if it has a diverse collection of plant species, carefully labeled and displayed. Or you could admire a "botanical" illustration—a detailed drawing of flowers, leaves, and stems. Think lush greenhouses, scientific studies of flora, or even the floral scent in your favorite lotion—it's all a part of the botanical world.
"Botanical" is an adjective that relates to plants—and to botany, the scientific study of plant life.
The word stems from the Greek botanē, meaning herb, and it has three common uses. First, it refers to things connected to identifying, classifying, and studying plants, like "botanical research" or a "botanical garden." Such gardens are not just pretty places; they are often centers for conservation and scientific study.
Second, "botanical" can describe things made from plants, such as "botanical extracts" in skincare products derived from flowers, roots, or leaves, a "botanical remedy" in traditional medicine, or a "botanical gin" infused with herbs and spices.
Third, it can refer to artistic representations of plants, such as detailed botanical illustrations in field guides, or a space with a plant-inspired decorative style.
So whether you mean scientific study, natural ingredients, or plant-inspired art, "botanical" points to the rich and diverse world of plants.
Examples
- 1
Botanical garden
We spent the morning at the botanical garden, walking through the orchid house and the desert section.
- 2
Plant names
The label includes the plant’s common name and its botanical name.
- Phrasebotanical name
the scientific name of a plant
- 3
Art training
She studied botanical illustration before she started designing flower books.
- 4
Plant ingredients
The company makes soaps with botanical ingredients such as lavender and mint.
- Phrasebotanical ingredients
ingredients taken from plants
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- botanical garden
- botanical illustration
- botanical name
- botanical extract
Word family
Explore
- plant taxonomy
- horticulture
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- botanicalnounadjective
Forms
- botanicalspluralnounadjective