# Orchard vs. Grove

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchard-vs-grove/143626>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 18, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchard-vs-grove/143626 "2002-12-18T19:25:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![whatmove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecc23a/32.png) [@whatmove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatmove)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchard-vs-grove/143626/1 "2002-12-18T19:25:32Z")

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A quick dictionary search gave me the same definition for both orchard and grove. I usually know which one to use in a given situation, but I had no idea how to explain the difference to my mother when she casually asked on a walk this morning. Are they interchangable terms or are could they be as different as apples and oranges?

-wm

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orchard-vs-grove/143626/2 "2002-12-18T19:48:43Z")

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Merriam Webster indicates a difference:

> [@](#):
>
> Main Entry: grove  
> Pronunciation: 'grOv  
> Function: noun  
> Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grAf  
> Date: before 12th century  
> **1 : a small wood without underbrush** \<a picnic grove\>  
> 2 : a planting of fruit or nut trees
> 
> Main Entry: or·chard  
> Pronunciation: 'or-ch&rd  
> Function: noun  
> Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ortgeard, from ort- (from Latin hortus garden) + geard yard – more at YARD  
> Date: before 12th century  
> : a planting of fruit trees, nut trees, or sugar maples; also : the trees of such a planting

The primary meaning of grove is any kind of small woodland, not necessarily planted by people (although it can be). Orchard definitely means an agricultural, deliberately planted patch of trees.