garden

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An area of land, often near a house, where flowers, vegetables, or other plants are grown.

   Grammar: Countable: a garden, two gardens. In British English, 'garden' often means the whole private outdoor area around a house, including grass.

   Patterns

   • in the garden
   • a vegetable garden
   • plant a garden

   We grow tomatoes and herbs in our small garden behind the house.

   The children were playing in the garden while their parents planted flowers.

   She spends every weekend working in her garden, pulling weeds and watering the roses.

2. 2verbintransitive

   To work in a garden, taking care of plants.

   Grammar: No object: you garden, or garden in a place. You don't 'garden a plant'.

   Patterns

   • garden in the backyard
   • enjoy gardening

   My grandfather loves to garden and spends hours outside every day.

   She gardens on weekends to relax and grow her own vegetables.

   They garden together as a way to spend time outdoors.

Word forms

Common combinations

vegetable garden

They planted a vegetable garden with carrots, beans, and lettuce.

flower garden

The flower garden was full of colorful tulips in spring.

garden tools

He kept his garden tools in a shed near the back door.

in the garden

We had afternoon tea in the garden.

garden party

They invited friends to a garden party on a sunny Saturday.

Synonyms and how they differ

yard

In American English, 'yard' is the area around a house; in British English, 'garden' is more common for that space.

plot

A small piece of land used for growing vegetables, often in a community garden.

Word family

gardener noun

A person who takes care of a garden, either as a job or as a hobby.

gardening noun

The activity of working in a garden.

Commonly confused: garden or yard?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “garden”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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