topiary

noun to·pi·ary \ ˈtō-pē-ˌer-ē \

Updated on: 31 Mar 2018

Definition of topiary

plural topiaries

1 a : a plant shaped by topiary art

b : topiary plants

2 : topiary art or gardening; also : a topiary garden

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Examples of topiary in a Sentence

a garden featuring topiaries and fountains

Recent Examples of topiary from the Web

Leading up to the main residence is a long, tiered water fountain lined with topiaries, and in the back is a lovely swimming pool—one of the first ever built in Ireland!—with terrace and a pool house.

— lauren ro, Curbed, "Restored 18th-century Irish estate can be yours for $9.2M," 16 Mar. 2018
This festival, which will be held from Feb. 28-May 28, is best known for the incredible topiaries and gardens.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Menus released for Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival," 12 Feb. 2018
The reality star, who is expecting a baby girl with boyfriend Tristan Thompson, was joined at the affair by her sisters, close friends, endless pink flowers, and of course, topiaries of giraffes and elephants.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "All About Khloé Kardashian’s Extravagant Baby Shower," 12 Mar. 2018
And the entrance area to World Showcase is populated by several butterfly topiaries.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "First look: Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival for 2018," 28 Feb. 2018
The club's fireplace mantels were embellished with greenery and shimmery red and red-and-white ribbons, tables topped with mini-Christmas tree topiaries with bases wrapped in bark.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Family and friends gather at brunch for Caroline Acomb, hosted by her parents," 26 Dec. 2017
Men and boys worked covering poles with straw to create life-size reproductions of the manger in Bethlehem and a fantasy topiary of straw stars, thrones and fir trees.

— Washington Post, "‘We are many, and God is with us’: Christmas spirit shines in Pakistan despite church bombing," 25 Dec. 2017
The First Family kept up the 42-year-old tradition of using cranberry topiaries in the room as well.

— michelle manetti, House Beautiful, "Everything You Missed From HGTV's White House Christmas Tour," 11 Dec. 2017
Beautiful decorations can be created using Styrofoam forms in the shape of pyramids, cones or topiaries.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to create festive and free holiday decorations straight from your garden," 4 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'topiary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of topiary

1904

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

topiary

adjective

Definition of topiary

: of, relating to, or being the practice or art of training, cutting, and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes; also : characterized by such work

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Recent Examples of topiary from the Web

There’s also a playground, a yew maze, Rose Garden, and topiary chess set.

— ellen scolnic, Philly.com, "Finding Anne Boleyn (and Henry VIII) at Hever Castle," 9 Feb. 2018
Private gates open to a boxwood topiary garden, and through the front door, a checkerboard marble foyer leads into more than 10,000 square feet of living space.

— jack flemming, latimes.com, "Sale of Smokey Robinson's former estate was Encino's chart-topper of 2017," 4 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of topiary

Latin topiarius, from topia ornamental gardening, irregular from Greek topos place

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1592

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

TOPIARY Defined for English Language Learners

topiary

noun

Definition of topiary for English Language Learners

: plants (such as trees and bushes) that are cut or grown into decorative shapes; also : the art of shaping plants in this way
: a plant that is cut or grown into a decorative shape