Main Entry:

bon·sai

Pronunciation:

\(ˌ)bōn-ˈsī, ˈbōn-ˌ, ˈbän-ˌ also ˈbän-ˌzī\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural bonsai

Etymology:

Japanese, literally, tray planting

Date:

1900

: a potted plant (as a tree) dwarfed (as by pruning) and trained to an artistic shape ; also : the art of growing such a plant

[bonsai illustration]