from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Botany \Bot"a*ny\, n.; pl. {Botanies}. [F. botanique, a. & n.,
fr. Gr. ? botanic, fr. ? herb, plant, fr. ? to feed, graze.]
1. The science which treats of the structure of plants, the
functions of their parts, their places of growth, their
classification, and the terms which are employed in their
description and denomination. See {Plant}.
[1913 Webster]
2. A book which treats of the science of botany.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Botany is divided into various departments; as,
{Structural Botany}, which investigates the structure and
organic composition of plants;
{Physiological Botany}, the study of their functions and
life; and
{Systematic Botany}, which has to do with their
classification, description, nomenclature, etc.
[1913 Webster]