bonsai

[ bon-sahy, -zahy, bohn-, bon-sahy, -zahy, bohn- ]
/ bɒnˈsaɪ, -ˈzaɪ, boʊn-, ˈbɒn saɪ, -zaɪ, ˈboʊn- /

noun, plural bon·sai.

a tree or shrub that has been dwarfed, as by pruning the roots and pinching, and is grown in a pot or other container and trained to produce a desired shape or effect.
the art or hobby of developing and growing such a plant or plants.

Origin of bonsai

1945–50; < Japanese bon-sai tray planting < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese pén tray + zāi plant, shoot

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bonsai

banzai bonsai

Example sentences from the Web for bonsai

British Dictionary definitions for bonsai

bonsai
/ (ˈbɒnsaɪ) /

noun plural -sai

the art of growing dwarfed ornamental varieties of trees or shrubs in small shallow pots or trays by selective pruning, etc
a tree or shrub grown by this method

Word Origin for bonsai

C20: Japanese: plant grown in a pot, from bon basin, bowl + sai to plant