topiary
Americanadjective
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(of a plant) clipped or trimmed into fantastic shapes.
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of or relating to such trimming.
noun
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topiary work; the topiary art.
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a garden containing such work.
adjective
noun
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topiary work
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a topiary garden
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the art of topiary
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of topiary
1585–95; < Latin topiārius pertaining to landscape-gardening or to ornamental gardens, equivalent to topi ( a ) (plural) artificial landscape (< Greek tópia (singular topion ), diminutive of tópos place) + -ārius -ary
Explanation
If you practice topiary in your yard, you'll end up with shrubs and hedges in the shapes of unicorns, lions, and giant prairie dogs, since topiary means cutting bushes into fun shapes. Topiary is probably the only art form that requires both muscle power and pruning shears: carefully trimming live shrubs to give them artful shapes. Large, groomed gardens are the most likely spots to see the result of topiary, either in the form of animals, geometric shapes, or mazes. The Latin root of topiary is topiarius, "pertaining to ornamental gardening," from the Greek topos, or "place."
Vocabulary lists containing topiary
2015 National Spelling Bee Words
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for April 12–April 18, 2026
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The Marvellers
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mapperton, near Beaminster, is an Italianate fantasy in a steep coombe studded with topiary and sky-reflecting pools.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
Jeff Koons stood atop a construction lift and planted a small, silvery gray dudleya succulent on the nose of his monumental topiary sculpture “Split-Rocker” at Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2025
“Split-Rocker,” like Koons’ only other topiary sculpture, “Puppy” from 1992, was created as an edition of one, plus one artist proof.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2025
Given the exact conditions he provides in his greenhouse, a potted topiary could live for decades.
From Seattle Times • May 1, 2024
Outside, I waved farewell to the sleeping topiary.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
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.
