arborise
|ar-bo-rise|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑɹbəraɪz/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːbəraɪz/
make or become tree-like; plant with trees
Etymology
'arborise' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'arbor' meaning 'tree', combined with the formative suffix that entered English as '-ize'/'-ise' (via French '-iser' and Late Latin/Greek suffixes) to form verbs meaning 'to make or become'.
'arbor' (Latin) led to Late Latin/medieval formations such as 'arborizare' or French 'arboriser', and these forms influenced the English verb 'arborize' (also spelled 'arborise' in British English).
Initially it carried the straightforward sense 'to make into a tree or plant with trees'; over time the word retained that sense and also came to be used figuratively or descriptively for things that 'form branch-like structures'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to plant with trees or to furnish (an area) with trees; to set out trees along or on (land, a street, etc.).
They arborise the new boulevard to provide shade and improve the view.
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Verb 2
to form branches or a branching, tree-like structure; to become branched or dendritic (used of biological or structural growth such as fungal hyphae, nerves, crystals).
Under the microscope the hyphae arborise into a complex network.
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Last updated: 2025/10/03 06:42