arbor

¹ American  

[ahr-ber] / ˈɑr bər /

especially British, arbour

noun

1. a leafy, shady recess formed by tree branches, shrubs, etc.

2. a latticework bower intertwined with climbing vines and flowers.

3. Obsolete. a grass plot; lawn; garden; orchard.

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arbor ² American  

[ahr-ber] / ˈɑr bər /

noun

1. Machinery.

   1. a bar, shaft, or axis that holds, turns, or supports a rotating cutting tool or grinding wheel, often having a tapered shank fitting tightly into the spindle of a machine tool.

   2. a beam, shaft, axle, or spindle.

2. Metallurgy. a reinforcing member of a core or mold.

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arbor ³ American  

[ahr-ber] / ˈɑr bər /

noun

Botany.

• arbores
  plural

1. a tree.

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arbor ¹ British  

/ ˈɑːbə /

noun

1. a rotating shaft in a machine or power tool on which a milling cutter or grinding wheel is fitted

2. a rotating shaft or mandrel on which a workpiece is fitted for machining

3. metallurgy a part, piece, or structure used to reinforce the core of a mould

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arbor ² British  

/ ˈɑːbə /

noun

1. the US spelling of arbour

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• arboresque
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• arbores
  plural

Etymology

Origin of arbor¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (h)erber, erba(i)re, arbere “(flower) garden, pleasure garden, herb garden,” Anglo-French (h)erber, Old French (h)erbier “grassy place, herb garden”; respelling with -or under the influence of arbor ³

Origin of arbor²

First recorded in 1650–60; from French, arbre “tree, axis,” from Latin arbor “tree, mast, (spear) shaft, oar”; respelling of earlier arber, arbre by association with arbor ³

Origin of arbor³

First recorded in 1660–70; from New Latin, Latin; see also arbor ² ( def. )

Explanation

An arbor is a garden structure on which plants and vines can grow. Sitting under an arbor can help you cool off when you're strolling through a garden on a hot, sunny day. You may have come across the word arbor in the context of a garden structure, like a trellis or pergola. However, if you've heard of the holiday known as "Arbor Day," you know that an arbor is also a tree. These two meanings come from two different roots: the wooden arch type of arbor comes from the Latin herba, "grass or herb," while the tree arbor comes directly from the Latin arbor. Simply enough, it means "tree."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arbor arbores

Long-term goals include building a cultural center and an arbor for traditional dance and games.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024

“If you’re just planting it to climb on your porch or arbor, I think you’ll be disappointed; it will look like a weed,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 17, 2024

One-story homes of concrete or mud brick dot the landscape in pastel clusters, some with grape arbor vines climbing their roofs, interspersed with the occasional small school or mosque.

From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2023

Her brother, my great-uncle, tended a huge arbor of grapes outside their Bakersfield home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2022

Through an arbor, I could see a deck off the back of the house with a view of a cove that belonged in a summer camp for rich kids.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

In this reign also 200 "grossos arbores," near Drogheda, were valued at 16l.;

From Notes and Queries, Number 235, April 29, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

Groups of trees like Sex arbores were venerated, perhaps for their height, isolation, or some other peculiarity.

From The Religion of the Ancient Celts by J. A. MacCulloch

Related Words

• bed
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