garland

¹ American  

[gahr-luhnd] / ˈgɑr lənd /

noun

1. a wreath or festoon of flowers, leaves, or other material, worn for ornament or as an honor or hung on something as a decoration.

   A garland of laurel was placed on the winner's head.

2. a representation of such a wreath or festoon.

3. a collection of short literary pieces, as poems and ballads; literary miscellany.

4. Nautical. a band, collar, or grommet, as of rope.

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verb (used with object)

1. to crown with a garland; deck with garlands.

Garland ² American  

[gahr-luhnd] / ˈgɑr lənd /

noun

1. Hamlin 1860–1940, U.S. novelist, short-story writer, and poet.

2. Judy Frances Gumm, 1922–69, U.S. singer and actress.

3. a city in NE Texas, near Dallas.

4. a male or female given name.

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garland ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɑːlənd /

noun

1. a wreath or festoon of flowers, leaves, etc, worn round the head or neck or hung up

2. a representation of such a wreath, as in painting, sculpture, etc

3. a collection of short literary pieces, such as ballads or poems; miscellany or anthology

4. nautical a ring or grommet of rope

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verb

1. (tr) to deck or adorn with a garland or garlands

Garland ² British  

/ ˈɡɑːlənd /

noun

1. Judy, real name Frances Gumm. 1922–69, US singer and film actress. Already a child star, she achieved international fame with The Wizard of Oz (1939). Later films included Meet Me in St Louis (1944) and A Star is Born (1954)

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Other Word Forms

• garlandless adjective
• garlandlike adjective
• ungarland verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of garland

1275–1325; Middle English ger ( e ) lande, garlande < Old French < ?

Example Sentences

“If you had a tree or some garland with 1,000 lights, it might have 800. Things will just get watered down, and so you will be paying the same, if not more, for less.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026

This year, for the first time, Pons is also trying to create a more festive atmosphere inside the store with holiday decorations, such as a garland at the checkout desk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

When fall rolls around, they loop a simple garland of leaves around the bar—nothing fancy, just a whisper of the season.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2025

Or why spend $30 on a holiday garland when you could make something similar out of shopping-bag cardboard?

From Slate • Feb. 15, 2025

When she had finished the garland, she laid it lightly upon Victor’s black curls.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Related Words

• wreath