topiary

views updated May 29 2018

to·pi·ar·y / ˈtōpēˌerē/ • n. (pl. -ar·ies) the art or practice of clipping shrubs or trees into ornamental shapes. ∎  shrubs or trees clipped into ornamental shapes in such a way: a cottage surrounded by topiary and flowers.DERIVATIVES: to·pi·ar·i·an / ˌtōpēˈe(ə)rēən/ adj.to·pi·a·rist / -ərist/ n.

topiary

views updated May 21 2018

topiary pert. to the trimming of shrubs into ornamental or fantastic shapes. XVI. — F. topiaire — L. topiārius, f. topia fancy or landscape gardening — Gr. tópia, pl. of tópion, dim. of tópos place; see -ARY.
Hence sb. XX.

topiary

views updated Jun 08 2018

topiary Practice of trimming densely leaved evergreen shrubs and trees into decorative artificial shapes.