# garland

/ˈɡɑɹɫənd/ (US) · /ɡˈɑːlənd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/garland
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. decoration of flowers

noun · CEFR B2

a circle or string of flowers and leaves that you wear or hang up as a decoration.

For teachers: a wreath or festoon of flowers, leaves, or other materials, worn on the head or body or draped as a decorative ornament.

- The islanders welcomed the visitors by placing a colorful garland around each person's neck.
- The temple was adorned with intricate garlands of marigolds and jasmine, scenting the air for the duration of the festival.

### 2. an anthology

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a collection of poems or pieces of writing in one book.

For teachers: a literary miscellany or anthology, typically consisting of selected poems or prose extracts.

- He spent his evenings reading an old garland of English verse.
- The library holds a rare seventeenth-century garland, containing various ballads and lyrical fragments from the Elizabethan era.

### 3. mining gutter

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a metal drain inside a mine shaft to catch water.

For teachers: a metal gutter or trough fixed to the internal lining of a mineshaft to collect water and direct it into a drainpipe.

- The miners checked the garland to make sure water wasn't leaking into the shaft.
- Corrosion in the iron garland led to significant water seepage, necessitating an immediate halt to operations for shaft maintenance.

### 4. nautical rope ring

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a ring made of rope used on a ship to help move heavy parts.

For teachers: a grommet or ring of rope lashed to a spar or used to hold provisions or equipment in place.

- The sailor used a rope garland to keep the supplies from sliding across the deck.
- The boatswain ordered the replacement of the worn garlands on the mainmast before the vessel encountered heavier seas.

### 5. to decorate

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to decorate something with circles or strings of flowers.

For teachers: to deck, ornament, or encircle a person or object with garlands.

- The statues in the square were garlanded with ribbons for the summer parade.
- The victors were garlanded with laurel leaves as they marched through the city gates amidst the cheers of the populace.

## Examples

- The guests wore garlands of fresh flowers around their necks.
- During the festival, every doorway in the village was decorated with a colorful garland of marigolds and silk ribbons.
- The poet was symbolically crowned with a laurel garland to recognize his lifelong contribution to national literature and the arts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.