topiary

American  

[toh-pee-er-ee] / ˈtoʊ piˌɛr i /

adjective

1. (of a plant) clipped or trimmed into fantastic shapes.

2. of or relating to such trimming.

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noun

plural

topiaries

1. topiary work; the topiary art.

2. a garden containing such work.

topiary British  

/ ˈtəʊpɪərɪ, ˌtəʊpɪˈɛərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by the trimming or training of trees or bushes into artificial decorative animal, geometric, or other shapes

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noun

1. 1. topiary work

   2. a topiary garden

2. the art of topiary

Other Word Forms

• topiarian adjective
• topiarist noun

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."

Example Sentences

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

It also recently announced the installation of “Split-Rocker,” a monumental topiary sculpture by the artist Jeff Koons, which will anchor the new building.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

“It’s imperative that you do for your topiary plant what nobody else will do for you,” he said.

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2024

Seeing that most familiar of springtime garden-center offerings transformed in this way elicits smiles — and questions about how topiary happens.

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2024

It's a wonderland of palace buildings with golden turrets and glittering arches, fountains full of crimson and ivory fish, topiary mazes of clipped trees, shrubs, and bushes in every possible geometric shape.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• forest
• sapling
• seedling
• shrub
• timber
• wood