flower-bed

flower-bed — noun

1. a clearly defined area of soil within a garden where flowering plants are cultiv

1.nounA2
Definition

a clearly defined area of soil within a garden where flowering plants are cultivated for decoration

Example

Meera planted roses in the flower bed along the front wall of her house.

in the flower bed — preposition for location

Jiwoo spent the whole afternoon weeding the flower bed behind the garage.

Common collocations
  • plant/sow seeds in a flower bed
  • weed a flower bed
  • water the flower bed
  • build/create a flower bed
  • dig a flower bed
  • raised flower bed
  • flower bed border/edge
Synonyms
  • flowerbed

    same meaning, alternative spelling as one word

  • garden bed

    broader term that may also include vegetables or herbs

  • flower border

    refers specifically to a long narrow bed along a wall or path

Grammar Patterns

a/the flower bed

flower bed + verb

in/into/around a flower bed

Usage Note

Often written as two separate words (flower bed) or as one word (flowerbed). The verbs make, build, and dig are commonly used when creating a new flower bed.

Common Mistakes

She put the flowers in a flower bed on her balcony.
She put the flowers in a flowerpot on her balcony.
A flower bed is an area of ground in a garden; a flowerpot is a small container.

Word family

  • flowerbed
    nounA2
  • flower
    nounA1
  • bed
    nounA1
  • flower gardening
    noun phraseB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Flower bed (or flowerbed) is the most general term for a prepared area in a garden where flowers or ornamental plants are grown. Garden bed is broader and may include vegetables or herbs alongside flowers. A flower border describes a long, narrow bed typically planted against a wall, fence, or pathway. A raised bed refers to any planting area with elevated sides and soil held above ground level. Use flower bed when the primary purpose is ornamental flowers; choose garden bed when the area may contain a mix of plant types.

flower bedflowerbedgarden bedflower border

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • beautifully arranged
  • carefully planted
  • well-tended
  • freshly dug

Phrases

  • the edge of a flower bed
  • a row of flower beds

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchLatinOld EnglishEnglish

Combined from flower (from Old French flour, from Latin flos 'blossom') and bed (from Old English bedd, used since the 16th century to mean a piece of ground prepared for plants).