trellis

play

noun trel·lis \ˈtre-ləs\

Definition of trellis

1 : a frame of latticework used as a screen or as a support for climbing plants
2 : a construction (such as a summerhouse) chiefly of latticework
3 : an arrangement that forms or gives the effect of a lattice a trellis of interlacing streams

trellised

play \ˈtre-ləst\ adjective

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Recent Examples of trellis from the Web

Lady Boothby’. This one also is capable of climbing, and can reach more than 15 feet tall tied to a trellis.

— ciscoe morris, The Seattle Times, "Beautifully bright hummingbird magnets put the ‘hardy’ in hardy fuchsias", 14 June 2017
A trellis will be attached to the top to provide shade and privacy for the outdoor eating area that will be installed later.

— molly harbarger, OregonLive.com, "Portland community prepares Kenton village for homeless women to move in", 7 June 2017
Another trellis supports peas, with other vegetables planted closely around the base of its container.

— roxie hammill, kansascity, "Options abound for gardening in a small space", 2 June 2017
That’s in addition to the community garden, which will be largely vertical and grown on trellises.

— jason ruiter, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando nonprofit wins $30K grant to launch Groveland community garden", 29 May 2017
Then as the sugar snaps get sapped, the long beans take over the trellis.

— tamara chuang, The Denver Post, "Vegetable garden planning is a multi-year process to find what works, what’s tasty and what the squirrels won’t eat", 26 May 2017
The avocado trees are the workhorses, acting as trellises for passion fruit vines and providing shade for the coffee bushes.

— stephanie strom, New York Times, "Your Coffee Is From Where? California?", 26 May 2017
Vegetables can be grown on walls, trellises or towers.

— wendy fawthrop, Orange County Register, "(Sub)urban farming", 19 May 2017
Traditionally, vines have been trained on wire trellis systems, up and away from the ground, sometimes as high as 7 feet, to protect grapes against diseases brought on by dampness.

— michael austin, chicagotribune.com, "Albarino: Your wine for about anything pulled from the sea", 17 May 2017

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

Illustration of trellis

Origin and Etymology of trellis

Middle English trelis, from Anglo-French treleis, from Old French treille arbor, from Latin trichila summerhouse

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

trellis

verb trel·lis

Definition of trellis

transitive verb
1 : to provide with a trellis; especially : to train (a plant, such as a vine) on a trellis
2 : to cross or interlace on or through : interweave