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

There the tribe has built a senior center and a shaded arbor for its ceremonial gatherings, including the making of “nupa,” the Miwok word for acorn soup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2025

Trees will be delivered with stakes, ties, arbor guards and an instructional DVD on tree planting and maintenance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2024

In front of the new hedge, a simple 9-foot arbor, also stained a dark color, supports Clematis armandii, providing an evergreen tracery of foliage that’s smothered with fragrant white blooms in early spring.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2023

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

The firm possession of a yard, a porch, a grape arbor.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

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 MacCulloch, J. A.

Related Words

• bed
• box
• counter
• furniture
• shelf