horticulture
noun
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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
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University and author of Plants Are Speaking.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
Mission Statement The Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club’s purpose is to further the development of charitable horticulture and conservation activities both within the Rancho Santa Fe community and the Greater San Diego area.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025
First, measure the space where the tree will be displayed, both ceiling height and width of the area, says Bert Cregg, associate professor and extension specialist of horticulture and forestry at Michigan State University.
—George Petras, USA Today, 8 Dec. 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 3 Jan. 2026.
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horticulture
noun
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