orchard

[ awr-cherd ]

noun

1. an area of land devoted to the cultivation of fruit or nut trees.
2. a group or collection of such trees.

orchard

/ ˈɔːtʃəd /

noun

1. an area of land devoted to the cultivation of fruit trees
2. a collection of fruit trees especially cultivated

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchard¹

before 900; Middle English orch ( i ) ard, Old English orceard; replacing ortyard, Middle English ortyerd, Old English ortigeard (compare Gothic aurtigards garden), equivalent to ort- (combining form akin to wort ²; later identified with Latin hortus garden) + geard yard ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchard¹

Old English orceard, ortigeard, from ort-, from Latin hortus garden + geard yard ²

Example Sentences

We watch his grandchildren play tag in the shade of the orchard.

From BBC

The next morning, the winds kicked up dust from nearby farms and orchards, obscuring the community’s panoramic views of Camarillo and the Pacific.

From Los Angeles Times

As explained by the AP, pistachio orchards “can be sustained with minimal water during drought” and their trees “rely on wind instead of bees for pollination and can produce nuts for decades longer.”

From Salon

At the small CDF station in the village of Ferzoul, between orchards and vineyards, the Sun comes up after a cold night.

From BBC

Sometimes the streets in the town known for cattle ranching, apple orchards and ironworking can be so quiet it feels like a ghost town.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• garden
• plantation