xeriscape

WOTD – 8 February 2008    

English

Etymology

From 1980s Xeriscape, a term coined (and trademarked) by Denver Water. From xeric (“dry”) + -scape (“type of space”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈzɛ.ɹɪ.skeɪp/
• (US) IPA: /ˈzɛ.ɹə.skeɪp/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

xeriscape (plural xeriscapes)

1. A kind of landscape design for arid regions, minimising the need for irrigation.
   • 1999 — Neal Stephenson, Cryptonomicon

     Randy looks up over the Impala and the retaining wall and the ice-clogged xeriscape above that and into the lobby of Waterhouse House, where Amy Shaftoe has her feet up on a coffee table and is looking through some of the extremely sad Cayuse-related literature that Randy bought for Avi.

Verb

xeriscape (third-person singular simple present xeriscapes, present participle xeriscaping, simple past and past participle xeriscaped)

1. To landscape in a water-friendly manner.

Related terms

• xeric
• xerophyte
• xerophytic
• xerophytically
• xerophytism