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wintergreen definition

winter·green (-grēn′)

noun

  1. ☆
    1. any of several gaultherias; esp., a creeping subshrub (Gaultheria procumbens) having small, rounded evergreen leaves, bell-shaped, white flowers, and red, edible berries
    2. an aromatic compound (oil of wintergreen) made from the leaves of this plant or the bark of a birch (Betula lenta), or synthetically from salicylic acid: sometimes used in medicine or as a flavoring
    3. the flavor or anything flavored with it
  2. any of a number of similar plants, as the shinleaf or pipsissewa
  3. a milkwort (Polygala paucifolia) with large, rose-lavender flowers

Etymology: based on Ger wintergrün, Du wintergroen: so named because evergreen

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

wintergreen Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • round-leaved: Scarce plants found in the area include marsh and dune helleborine, coral root orchid and round-leaved wintergreen.

Modifies a noun

  • pyrola: Intermediate wintergreen Pyrola media is also quite scattered and locally frequent in the more species-rich areas.

Noun used with modifier

  • chickweed: The delicate pink - flushed white flowers of Chickweed wintergreen will be in flower through to August.
wintergreen usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"wintergreen." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/wintergreen>

APA Style

wintergreen. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/wintergreen

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