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hydroponics

American  
[hahy-druh-pon-iks] / ˌhaɪ drəˈpɒn ɪks /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

  1. the cultivation of plants by placing the roots in liquid nutrient solutions rather than in soil; soilless growth of plants.

hydroponics British  
/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈpɒnɪks /

noun

  1. Also called: aquiculture.  (functioning as singular) a method of cultivating plants by growing them in gravel, etc, through which water containing dissolved inorganic nutrient salts is pumped

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
hydroponics Scientific  
/ hī′drə-pŏn′ĭks /

  1. The cultivation of plants in a nutrient-rich solution, rather than in soil, and under controlled conditions of light, temperature, and humidity.

  2. Also called aquaculture

hydroponics Cultural  

  1. Cultivating plants in an artificial environment in which the necessary nutrients are carried to the roots in a liquid mixture.

Other Word Forms

  • hydroponic adjective
  • hydroponically adverb
  • hydroponicist noun
  • hydroponist noun

Etymology

Origin of hydroponics

First recorded in 1935–40; hydro- 1 + (geo)ponics

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Grains are not typically grown in hydroponics apart for their use as fodder.

From Science Daily

Moving away from tradition, hydroponics skips soil completely to grow crops in nutrient-rich water, often indoors where every aspect can be controlled to maximize yield.

From National Geographic

"With changes in climate crops fail. So I decided to use the technique of hydroponics - cultivation without soil."

From BBC

While more expensive up front, hydroponics offer a more controlled growing environment to ensure higher yields and protect your plants against extreme or unpredictable weather as the climate changes.

From Salon

The farm at Luther Jackson uses aquaponics technology, combining the methods of hydroponics, growing plants with water rather than soil, and aquaculture, the process of growing and raising fish.

From Washington Post

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.