formal garden
1
4.2
- noun
:
jardín formal
- The formal garden features symmetrical pathways and a central fountain, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
- acres of formal gardens
- formal garden and fountains
- house with formal gardens
Examples
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The formal garden that led eastward from the pool was a reproduction of the garden visible in a corner of the Caravaggio.
Fiction book (2001) -
But Rhett didn't come, and when Scarlett left the carefully chosen bench in the immaculately maintained formal garden behind the house, she felt chilled to the bone.
Fiction book (1991) -
And to me, it feels like a small formal garden, and I can make it as nice as possible.
Blog text (25) -
When the formal gardens were laid out, that simple design was probably in fashion.
Blog text (9) -
Vanderbilt was no doubt influenced by travels to Europe and the formal gardens there.
Blog text (9) -
I love formal gardens, boxwood, hedging, all that sort of thing.
-
They were separated from one another by small garden walkways, and they surrounded a large, central formal garden.
Academic text (2004) -
The south-facing solarium extended into the formal garden, and the light, even on this overcast day, was wonderful.
Fiction book (1996) -
At one end is a formal garden of pruned and sculpted shrubs and flowers interlaced with pathways.
Academic text (1992) -
The early afternoon sky outside was gray; a flock of ravens came fluttering down to land on the misty lawn of the formal garden that stretched away from the mansion.
Fiction book (2002)
How Symmetrical
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: a 'formal garden' is simply a garden that is formal in arrangement. A B1 learner who knows 'formal' (meaning structured, proper) and 'garden' will readily infer a garden with regular, symmetrical layouts, so the meaning is transparently derived from the parts.
Etymology
Formal garden comes from the idea of making a garden into clear, regular shapes; the word formal suggests strict lines and repeated patterns that gardeners used when they planted hedges, paths and beds. That's why a formal garden now means a garden arranged in 'neat' and 'balanced' designs.