SKIP TO CONTENT

arboretum

/ˈɑrbəˌridəm/
/ɑbəˈritəm/
IPA guide

Other forms: arboretums; arboreta

In even the busiest of cities you can often find an arboretum, a sort of museum for trees, where many different types of trees and shrubs are growing, kept for scientific study and for the enjoyment of the general population.

The word arboretum comes from the Latin arbor, "tree," and the suffix -ētum, "place," making the meaning "a place of trees." The concept of the arboretum goes back even further than the word itself, all the way to the ancient pharaohs of Egypt, who raised and studied trees from other lands. The oldest known arboretum in the Western world is the Trsteno Arboretum, in Trsteno, Croatia, which was established in the 15th century.

Definitions of arboretum
  1. noun
    a facility where trees and shrubs are cultivated for exhibition
    synonyms: botanical garden
    see moresee less
    type of:
    facility, installation
    a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘arboretum'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family