orchard

noun

or·​chard ˈȯr-chərd How to pronounce orchard (audio)
: a planting of fruit trees, nut trees, or sugar maples
also : the trees of such a planting

Examples of orchard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At a Michigan orchard, a woman tells her three daughters about a long-ago romance. 7. The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 She was buried under a tree in the orchard a few hundred yards from the home’s veranda. Clarence Williams, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023 Though the many orchards in this old mining town nestled amongst the Cuyamaca Mountains in San Diego County are certainly a seasonal draw, there are also some great wineries and hiking to do in the area, too. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 The state's namesake apple, the Arkansas Black, dates back to 1870, when a Benton County farmer encountered an impressive seedling in his orchard. Nancie McDermott, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2023 Beaver ponds with brushy cover offer good hunting, as do overgrown farm fields, old apple orchards, and young forests near water. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 18 Oct. 2023 Beyond the stargazer platform, which was built for tent campers and has a private fire pit and hammock chairs, guests come to Coldwater Gardens to bask in the tranquility of the 385 acres of gardens, orchards, and wetlands set along a creek that runs through the property. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023 At a Michigan orchard, a woman tells her three daughters about a long-ago romance. 4. The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023 Welcome to the world’s foremost autumnal experience—a jaunt through the iconic mountains and orchards of rural Vermont. Emma Brewer, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orchard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English ortgeard, from ort- (from Latin hortus garden) + geard yard — more at yard

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of orchard was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near orchard

Cite this Entry

“Orchard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orchard. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

orchard

noun
or·​chard ˈȯr-chərd How to pronounce orchard (audio)
1
: a place where fruit or nut trees are grown
2
: the trees in an orchard
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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