garland

noun

gar·land | \ ˈgär-lənd

Definition of garland

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : a circular or spiral arrangement of intertwined material (such as flowers or leaves)

2 : anthology, collection

garland

verb

garlanded; garlanding; garlands

Definition of garland (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to form into a garland

2 : to adorn with or as if with a garland

Garland

biographical name (1)

Gar·land | \ ˈgär-lənd

Definition of Garland (Entry 3 of 5)

(Hannibal) Hamlin 1860–1940 American novelist

Garland

biographical name (2)

Definition of Garland (Entry 4 of 5)

Judy 1922–1969 originally Frances Gumm American actress and singer

Garland

geographical name

Gar·land | \ ˈgär-lənd

Definition of Garland (Entry 5 of 5)

city in northeastern Texas north-northeast of Dallas population 226,876

Examples of garland in a Sentence

Noun

They placed a garland of flowers around her neck.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Visitors here were treated to garlands of their own, local tribal dances, coffee, tea and evening lightshows displayed on the village’s 500-year-old distinct natural clay, stone and wood structures. — Washington Post, "Saudi festival showcases green mountains, flower crowns," 30 Aug. 2019 Floral garlands adorn the furniture and window sills as an homage to flowers that bloom in the South. — Jessica Villagomez, chicagotribune.com, "Family fights to remain in Austin neighborhood’s iconic pink house," 24 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'garland.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for garland

Noun

Middle English gerland, garlond "wreath of leaves or flowers worn as a crown," borrowed from Anglo-French garlande, gerlaunde "hair band, diadem" (continental Old French, "crown made with gold filigree"), probably from Old French *gareler "to trim with gold or silver filigree" (expansion, with -eler after such verbs as estenceler "to sparkle," of Old Low Franconian *wearōn, *wiarōn, derivative of *wiara "gold or silver filigree, ornament made of such material," going back to Germanic *wīr- "metal thread, wire") + -ande, collective noun suffix (going back to Latin -anda, neuter plural gerundive suffix) — more at stencil entry 1, wire entry 1

Note: The variant Old Low Franconian forms *weara, *wiara (corresponding to Old High German wiara "fine gold, ornament of gold filigree"), stages in the development of Germanic e², are postulated to explain the two Romance outcomes of this etymon: garlande in Old French (from *weara) and guirlanda "crown made of gold thread," first attested in Old Occitan (from *wiara, presumably progressing to *wiera as in Old High German). Old Occitan guirlanda, borrowed into Italian as ghirlanda, cycled back to French in the 16th century as guirlande, in the sense "circular arrangement of flowers or leaves."

Verb

Middle English gerlonden, garlonden, derivative of gerland garland entry 1

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More Definitions for garland

garland

noun

English Language Learners Definition of garland

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a ring or rope that is made of leaves, flowers, or some other material and that is used as a decoration

garland

verb

English Language Learners Definition of garland (Entry 2 of 2)

: to put a garland on (someone or something)

See the full definition for garland in the English Language Learners Dictionary

garland

noun

gar·land | \ ˈgär-lənd

Kids Definition of garland

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a wreath or rope of material (as leaves or flowers)

garland

verb

garlanded; garlanding

Kids Definition of garland (Entry 2 of 2)

garland

Definition of garland

Examples of garland in a Sentence

First Known Use of garland

History and Etymology for garland

English Language Learners Definition of garland

Kids Definition of garland

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