Definition

1. Noun:
   • The art or practice of shaping trees or shrubs into decorative shapes: This refers to the horticultural technique of training, cutting, and trimming live perennial plants into clearly defined, often geometric or representational shapes.
   • A garden or garden feature containing such shaped plants: This refers to a place or an element within a garden where plants sculpted by this art are displayed.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Art/Practice):
  • The palace gardens are famous for their intricate topiary.
  • She studied the ancient art of topiary for years.
• Noun (Garden Feature):
  • The maze was bordered by a beautiful topiary of mythical creatures.
  • We walked through the topiary, admiring the green sculptures.

Advanced Usage

• "Topiary work": The specific act or result of creating topiary shapes.
  • The topiary work on that hedge is exceptionally detailed.
• "Topiary garden": A garden dedicated to displaying topiary.
  • Levens Hall is renowned for its historic topiary garden.

Variants and Related Words

• Topiarist (n): A person who practices the art of topiary.
  • The head gardener is a skilled topiarist.

Synonyms

• Hedge sculpture: A descriptive term for the result of topiary.
• Clipped greenery: Refers to plants shaped by trimming.

Related Phrases

• "To clip into topiary": To trim a plant to form a decorative shape.
  • They decided to clip the boxwood into topiary forms.

Noun

1. making decorative shapes by trimming shrubs or trees
2. a garden having shrubs clipped or trimmed into decorative shapes especially of animals