DictionaryAI

arbor

noun
AHR-bur/ˈɑɹbɚ/UKAH-buh/ˈɑːbə/

Pluralarbors, arbores

UK spellingarbour

2 meanings of arbor

Practice

  1. 1
    garden shelternouncountable
    A shady place to sit in a garden or park, with climbing plants growing all around it.

    Grandma likes to read in the arbor at the end of the garden.

    Thick vines grow over the arbor, so it stays cool on hot days.

    UsagePeople say grape arbor or rose arbor. In British English it is spelled arbour.

    Similarbower, pergola

    Note
  2. 2
    wheel axlenouncountable
    A metal rod in a machine that holds something that turns, like a wheel, blade, or tool.

    The clock stopped because one small wheel had a bent arbor.

    He put a drop of oil on the arbor so the wheel would turn smoothly.

    Similarspindle, shaft, axle, mandrel

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of arbor apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meaning 1

From an old French word for a field or garden, from Latin herba, "grass, herb". The spelling changed to look like Latin arbor, "tree".

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

Meaning 2

From French arbre, "tree, axis". The spelling changed to look like Latin arbor, "tree".

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts