ginger

(jinjər)

adjective

designating a family (Zingiberaceae, order Zingiberales) of aromatic, monocotyledonous tropical plants, including galangal

Origin: ME gingere, gingivere < OE gingifer & OFr gingivre, both < ML gingiber < L zingiber < Gr zingiberi < Pali siṅgivera

noun

  1. an Asiatic herb (Zingiber officinale) of the ginger family, widely cultivated in the tropics for its aromatic rhizome, used as a spice or perfume and in medicine
  2. the rhizome, or the spice made from it
  3. a sandy or reddish-brown color
  4. Informal vigor; spirit

transitive verb

  1. to flavor with ginger
  2. to invigorate; enliven

noun

a feminine name

See ginger in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A plant (Zingiber officinale) of tropical southeast Asia having yellowish-green flowers and a pungent aromatic rhizome.
  2. The rhizome of this plant, often dried and powdered and used as a spice. Also called gingerroot.
  3. a. Any of several related plants having variously colored, often fragrant flowers.
    b. Wild ginger.
  4. A strong brown.
  5. Informal Spirit and liveliness; vigor.
transitive verb gin·gered, gin·ger·ing, gin·gers
  1. To spice with ginger.
  2. Informal To make lively: A steel drum band gingered up the party.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English gingivere

Origin: , from Old English gingifer

Origin: and from Old French gingivre

Origin: , both from Medieval Latin gingiber

Origin: , from Latin zingiberi

Origin: , from Greek zingiberis

Origin: , of Middle Indic origin (akin to Pali singiveram)

Origin: , from Dravidian

Origin: : akin to Tamil iñci, ginger (of southeast Asian origin)

Origin: + Tamil vēr, root

.

Related Forms:

  • ginˈger·y adjective

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