horticulture
noun
Did you know?
Hortus is Latin for "garden", and the first gardens were planted about 10,000 years ago in what is often called the Fertile Crescent—the crescent-shaped area stretching from Israel north through Syria and down Iraq's two great rivers to the Persian Gulf. Probably more fertile in previous centuries than it is today, it was the original home of such food plants as wheat, barley, peas, and lentils or their ancient ancestors (not to mention the ancestors of cows, pigs, sheep, and goats as well). Many horticulturists today work as researchers or plant breeders or tend orchards and greenhouses—but most American households contain at least one amateur horticulturist.
Examples of horticulture in a Sentence
Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Charles is a committed environmentalist, a great lover of art and horticulture, and is known to deny himself lunch.
—Alexander Larman, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Leaves have nutrients that can be recycled into your lawn, according to a 2023 article from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's horticulture department.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Over roughly six months, the zoo's sustainability and horticulture teams conceptualized the garden project.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horticulture
Cite this Entry
“Horticulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horticulture. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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horticulture
noun
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