bonsai
bonsai Lexical Profile
bonsai Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An ornamental woody tree or shrub—often a pine, juniper, maple, or ficus—artificially dwarfed and shaped into an artistic miniature form by growing it in a shallow container and carefully pruning its roots and branches.
"A centuries-old Japanese white pine bonsai stood as the centerpiece of the botanical conservatory."
The traditional Japanese horticultural art and practice of cultivating, pruning, and training miniature trees in shallow pots to mimic the shape and scale of full-sized, mature trees in nature.
"Mastering the art of bonsai requires years of patience, aesthetic vision, and careful seasonal maintenance."
• verb
To dwarf and shape (a tree or shrub) into an artistic miniature form through root restriction, pruning, and wiring.
"The gardener decided to bonsai the young juniper sapling rather than planting it out in the yard."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'bonsai' (the Japanese horticultural art of miniature trees) with 'banzai' (a traditional Japanese cheer or battle cry meaning 'ten thousand years').
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 19th century from Japanese 'bonsai', literally meaning 'tray planting' (from 'bon', a tray or shallow pot, and 'sai', a planting), which was adapted from the earlier Chinese practice known as 'penzai' or 'penjing'.