garden

¹ American  

[gahr-dn] / ˈgɑr dn /

noun

1. a plot of ground, usually near a house, where flowers, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, or herbs are cultivated.

2. a piece of ground or other space, commonly with ornamental plants, trees, etc., used as a park or other public recreation area.

   a public garden.

3. a fertile and delightful spot or region.

4. British. yard.

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adjective

1. pertaining to, produced in, or suitable for cultivation or use in a garden.

   fresh garden vegetables; garden furniture.

2. garden-variety.

verb (used without object)

1. to lay out, cultivate, or tend a garden.

verb (used with object)

1. to cultivate as a garden.

idioms

1. lead up / down the garden path, to deceive or mislead in an enticing way; lead on; delude.

   The voters had been led up the garden path too often to take a candidate's promises seriously.

Garden ² American  

[gahr-dn] / ˈgɑr dn /

noun

1. Alexander, 1730?–91, U.S. naturalist, born in Scotland.

2. Mary, 1877–1967, U.S. soprano.

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garden British  

/ ˈɡɑːdən /

noun

1. 1. US and Canadian word: yard.  an area of land, usually planted with grass, trees, flowerbeds, etc, adjoining a house

   2. ( as modifier )

      a garden chair

2. 1. an area of land used for the cultivation of ornamental plants, herbs, fruit, vegetables, trees, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      garden tools

3. (often plural) such an area of land that is open to the public, sometimes part of a park

   botanical gardens

4. 1. a fertile and beautiful region

   2. ( as modifier )

      a garden paradise

5. (modifier) provided with or surrounded by a garden or gardens

   a garden flat

6. informal to mislead or deceive a person

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adjective

1. informal ordinary; unexceptional

verb

1. to work in, cultivate, or take care of (a garden, plot of land, etc)

garden More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing garden

• lead down the garden path

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Other Word Forms

• garden-like adjective
• gardenable adjective
• gardenless adjective
• gardenlike adjective
• ungardened adjective
• well-gardened adjective

Etymology

Origin of garden

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gardin, from Old North French gardin, Old French jardin, from Germanic; compare Old High German gartin-, German Garten; see also yard ²

Explanation

A garden is a piece of land that's used to grow flowers, vegetables, or other plants. Your grandmother might be so proud of her rose garden that she gives every visitor a tour of it. A vegetable garden is often planted in straight rows, sometimes within a raised bed. Flower gardens can take all sorts of shapes, from tidy to meandering. When you work in your garden, pulling weeds or planting seedlings, you garden. In the UK, a garden is what's called a yard in the US — any bit of land just outside of a house. The phrase "garden variety" means "ordinary:" "Oh he's just a garden variety mixed-breed dog, nothing fancy."

Example Sentences

"I was bored sometimes, and that's okay," West recalled one recent evening at a city community garden where detox participants met to share their struggles and joys of disconnecting.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Centuries ago, a hedge also invoked the Latin term “hortus conclusus,” or enclosed garden.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Another resident in the suburb of Mornington said his garden had been "inundated with water, you couldn't see the grass or anything".

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Who is the spooky, smiling woman beckoning to a young girl at the edge of her garden?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

It had been the birth of the garden, but even still, Clare had never loved the other mushrooms the way he’d loved Captain.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• back yard
• bed
• field
• greenhouse
• nursery
• patio
• terrace