WordGarden.iogarden
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡˈɑːdən/
US
- /ˈɡɑrdən/
Meanings
Noun
an area where flowers, vegetables, or other plants are grown
Verb
to grow or tend plants in a garden
Beyond the definition
A garden isn't just dirt and flowers; it's a place where people nurture life, coaxing beauty and sustenance from the earth. Think of a "secret garden" overflowing with roses, or a practical vegetable garden providing fresh food for a family.
The word "garden" originally referred to an enclosed piece of land—a protected space. Today, we use it broadly to describe any cultivated area dedicated to growing plants, whether it's a sprawling country estate, a tiny balcony herb patch, or the carefully tended flowerbeds surrounding a public building. You might work in a garden, visit a botanical garden, or simply dream of having your own little slice of paradise—a garden of your own.
A garden is an area of land that people prepare and care for so plants can grow there. It may hold flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs, trees, or shrubs. It is more than just a green space; it often shows the care, taste, and purpose of the person or people looking after it. You might picture Monet's garden at Giverny, full of color and light, or a traditional Japanese Zen garden, made for quiet thought.
The word "garden" shares its roots with the Old English geard, meaning enclosure or yard. In the past, gardens were often enclosed spaces that gave people both protection and food. Over time, they came to serve other purposes too, including beauty, rest, and reflection.
We use "garden" mainly as a noun, and sometimes as a verb meaning to grow or care for plants. You can have a flower garden full of color, a vegetable garden that provides food, or a community garden that neighbors share. Figuratively, the "Garden of Eden" refers to a lost paradise. We also use the term "garden-variety" to describe something ordinary or common, while the idiom "to lead someone up the garden path" means to deceive or mislead them.
Gardens often suggest growth and possibility, because they are places where living things are planted, cared for, and allowed to thrive. In stories such as The Secret Garden, they can also stand for healing, hope, and quiet change.
Examples
- 1
Outdoor meal
We ate dinner in the garden when it got cooler.
- 2
Home gardening
She grows tomatoes and herbs in a small garden behind her house.
- 3
Gardening hobby
My grandfather spends hours working in the garden every weekend.
- 4
Housing feature
The apartment comes with a private garden.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Shared space
They turned the empty lot into a community garden.
- Phrasecommunity garden
a shared place where local people grow plants
- 6
Garden shop
I bought these gloves at the garden center.
- Phrasegarden center
a shop that sells plants and gardening things
- 7
Hotel feature
The hotel is famous for its rose garden.
- 8
Social event
We’re having a garden party on Saturday if the weather stays dry.
- Phrasegarden party
an outdoor social event held in a garden
- 9
Visitor attraction
The palace gardens are open to visitors in the summer.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- plant a garden
- tend a garden
- community garden
- garden path
Word family
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Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- gardennounverb
Forms
- gardenspluralnounverb
- gardening-ing formverbnoun
- gardenedpast tenseverbnoun