a plot of ground, usually near a house, where flowers, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, or herbs are cultivated.
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.
a fertile and delightful spot or region.
British. yard.
pertaining to, produced in, or suitable for cultivation or use in a garden.
fresh garden vegetables; garden furniture.
Alexander, 1730?–91, U.S. naturalist, born in Scotland.
Mary, 1877–1967, U.S. soprano.
US and Canadian word: yard. an area of land, usually planted with grass, trees, flowerbeds, etc, adjoining a house
( as modifier )
a garden chair
an area of land used for the cultivation of ornamental plants, herbs, fruit, vegetables, trees, etc
( as modifier )
garden tools
(often plural) such an area of land that is open to the public, sometimes part of a park
botanical gardens
a fertile and beautiful region
( as modifier )
a garden paradise
(modifier) provided with or surrounded by a garden or gardens
a garden flat
informal to mislead or deceive a person
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
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."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Simon Milne, regius keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, also receives a knighthood for services to botany, conservation and horticulture.
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026
Rumors are swirling that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might get married at Madison Square Garden.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026
Orange County officials will start removing chemicals this week from two storage tanks at a Garden Grove aerospace company that prompted thousands to evacuate their homes in late May.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026
The couple, who announced their engagement in August last year, have been seen in various spots around New York of late, and clues have multiplied that the Garden could be their venue of choice.
From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026
In her room at the Secret Garden, Annabelle rolls down her mud-caked socks.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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.
