Grove Meaning
/ɡɹəʊv/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA small forest.
nounA small forest with minimal undergrowth.
Sentence Examples
Might it happen to be a large symbolic grove of trees?
It was so peaceful in the grove of trees.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
We walked through a peaceful ____ of orange trees on the farm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The property includes a beautiful ____ of ancient olive trees that produce a high-quality oil every single year.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English grove, grave, from Old English grāf, grāfa (“grove; copse”), from Proto-West Germanic *graib, *graibō (“branch, group of branches, thicket”), from Proto-Germanic *graibaz, *graibô (“branch, fork”). Related to Old English grǣf, grǣfe (“brushwood; thicket; copse”), Old English grǣfa (“thicket”), dialectal Norwegian greive (“ram with splayed horns”), dialectal Norwegian greivlar (“ramifications of an antler”), dialectal Norwegian grivla (“to branch, branch out”), Old Norse grein (“twig, branch, limb”). More at greave.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Religious sodomy was practised by male prostitutes in the Hebrew temple groves, which was one of the abominations of Israel that Josiah cleared away."
— 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 160:
"It is called "Orchard Lake," from the fact, that near the centre is an island embracing an area of about fifty acres of land, well groved with different kinds of shrubbery; and near the centre of this island stand a number of aged apple-trees, planted, perhaps, a century since by the hand of some Indian."
— 1841, Sapp R, “Orchard Lake”, in L. L. Hamline, editor, The Ladies Repository, Volume 1, page 165:
"The trees and shrubs are not arranged after any particular system, but are scattered or groved together in various parts of the garden."
— 1822, Robert Chapman, The Topographical Picture of Glasgow in its Ancient and Modern State, 3rd edition, page 195:
"In Herefordshire, especially on the northern and eastern sides, Oak timber abounds; and in many of the woods it is usual to have felling at periods varying from sixteen to twenty years; the straightest and handsomest are left for timber, or, as it is called, groved; and they are from time to time thinned, and a regular distance kept between them. The effect produced on these groved trees is, that from being exposed to air and sun, the rapidity of their growth is increased in bulk, height, and quality; and in sixty or eighty years they become valuable timber."
— 1842 February 5, The Gardeners Chronicle, page 86:
"The floor of first story and piazza to be laid with Georgia pine, in narrow courses planed, groved and tongued, and laid in the best manner."
— 1841, New York State Assembly, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, volume 2, page 14:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
We walked through a peaceful ____ of orange trees on the farm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The property includes a beautiful ____ of ancient olive trees that produce a high-quality oil every single year.