topiary means of, or relating to art of topiaries. It carries an Arena rating of 1776, earned across 9 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, topiary ranks #78 of 13,467 for Most Vivid Words, #1,054 of 13,467 for Most Whimsical Words, #1,303 of 13,467 for Most Elegant Words, #1,643 of 13,467 for Most Satisfying to Say.
topiary is pronounced /ˈtəʊpjəɹi/.
Why “topiary” is a great word
The art of shaping trees and shrubs into ornamental, often representational, forms. From Latin topiarius ('of or pertaining to ornamental gardening'), from topia ('ornamental gardening'), from Ancient Greek τόπια (tópia, 'artistic representation of a place'), from τόπος (tópos, 'place'); the adjective use is attested from 1592. Unlike bonsai, which cultivates a miniature tree's natural form to evoke aged grandeur, or a hedge, which functions as a simple, uniform barrier, topiary is a plastic, assertive act of sculpting living foliage. It is the precise geometry of a green sphere, the startling verdant peacock, and the dark, rain-slicked forms of animals that seem to have wandered from a stone frieze—a patient, civilizing imposition of permanent order upon the restless growth of the world.
Etymology
From Latin topiarius (“of or relating to ornamental gardening; an ornamental garden, an ornamental gardener”), from Latin topia (“ornamental gardening, landscape painting”), from Ancient Greek τόπια (tópia, “artistic representation in which natural or artificial features of a place are used as the medium”), plural of Ancient Greek τόπιον (tópion, “field, landscape”), from τόπος (tópos, “place”). The adjective use dates to 1592, the noun use dates to 1908.
adj
- Of, or relating to art of topiaries.“As the topiary art has been allowed to practically die out, it is difficult to secure the services of skilled clippers.”
- Of a tree or shrub, trimmed in artistic shape.
noun
- Art or practice of trimming shrubs or trees in artistic or ornamental shapes, e.g. of animals.“The palace garden might have had a semblance of coolness had there been any trees, but the tallest things were fanciful topiary, tortured into the shapes of running horses or bears performing tumblers’ tricks or the like.”
- A garden decorated with such art.
- One such shrub or tree.“We have topiaries for sale.”
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