arbor Hear it!

arbor1 definition

ar·bor (är′bər)

noun

  1. a place shaded by trees or shrubs or, esp., by vines on a latticework; bower
  2. Obsolete
    1. a garden or lawn
    2. an orchard

Etymology: ME erber < OFr erbier, herbier < LL herbarium, herbarium

arbor2 definition

ar·bor (är′bər)

noun pl. arbores ar′·bo·res′ (-bə rēz′)

Bot. a tree, in contrast to a shrub

Etymology: L, a tree, beam: see arduous

arbor3 definition

ar·bor (är′bər)

noun

  1. a shaft; beam
  2. a spindle; axle
  3. a round bar that holds a cutting tool or an article being turned on a lathe

Etymology: Fr arbre, tree, axis < L arbor: see arbor

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.