Main Entry: bot·a·ny

Pronunciation: \ˈbä-tə-nē, ˈbät-nē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural bot·a·nies

Etymology: botanic botanical + ²-y

Date: 1696

1 : a branch of biology dealing with plant life
2 a : plant life b : the properties and life phenomena exhibited by a plant, plant type, or plant group
3 : a botanical treatise or study; especially : a particular system of botany

— bot·a·nist \-nist\ noun