arboretum
UK: ɑːbəˈriːtəm | US: ɑːrbəˈriːtəm
n. a botanical garden dedicated to trees and shrubs
n. a place where trees are cultivated for scientific or ornamental purposes
arboretum = arbor<tree> + etum<place suffix>
- arbor: From Latin arbor (tree), referring to woody plants.
- etum: A Latin suffix denoting a place or collection, often used in botanical contexts (e.g., pinetum for a pine collection).
Etymology Origin:
The word arboretum directly reflects its Latin roots, combining arbor (tree) with the locative suffix -etum. It entered English in the 19th century as a specialized term for tree-focused gardens, mirroring earlier Latin uses like herbarium (for plants). The suffix -etum logically extends to designate "a place where [X] grows," making the word intuitive for botanical taxonomy.
The university’s arboretum features over 500 species of native trees.
Visitors enjoy autumn colors in the historic arboretum.
Scientists study climate resilience in the arboretum’s oak collection.
The arboretum serves as both a research site and a public park.
Local schools organize field trips to the arboretum for ecology lessons.