Ginseng Definition
jĭnsĕng
noun
Any of several perennial herbs (genus Panax) of the ginseng family, with thick, forked, aromatic roots, esp. a Chinese species (P. pseudoginseng) and a North American species (P. quinquefolium)
Webster's New World
Such a root, or a preparation made from it, used as a tonic.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- Panax schinseng
- Panax pseudoginseng
- Panax ginseng
- nin-sin
adjective
Designating a family (Araliaceae, order Apiales) of dicotyledonous plants, shrubs, and trees, usually having flat clusters of small, white or greenish flowers and, often, fragrant leaves, including Hercules'-club and English ivy.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Ginseng
Noun
Singular:
ginsengPlural:
ginsengsOrigin of Ginseng
Mandarin rénshēn from Middle Chinese rin ʂəm rin human being, person ʂəm ginseng (the plant perhaps being so called in Middle Chinese because its forked root resembles the human figure)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Mandarin trad. 人蔘, simpl. 人参 (pinyin: rénshēn).
From Wiktionary
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