ginger

¹

[ jin-jer ]

noun

1. a reedlike plant, Zingiber officinale, native to South Asia but now cultivated in many tropical countries, having a pungent, spicy rhizome used in cooking and medicine. Compare ginger family.
2. any of various plants related to or similar to Zingiber officinale.
3. the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, ground, chopped, etc., and used as a flavoring.
4. Informal. piquancy; animation:

   There was plenty of ginger in their performance of the dance.

5. a yellowish or reddish brown.

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or flavor with ginger, the spicy rhizome of the Zingiber officinale plant.
2. Informal. to impart piquancy or spirit to; enliven (usually followed by up ):

   to ginger up a talk with a few jokes.

adjective

1. flavored or made with ginger, the spicy rhizome of the Zingiber officinale plant.

Ginger

²

[ jin-jer ]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Virginia or Regina.

ginger

/ ˈdʒɪndʒə /

noun

1. any of several zingiberaceous plants of the genus Zingiber, esp Z. officinale of the East Indies, cultivated throughout the tropics for its spicy hot-tasting underground stem See also galangal Compare wild ginger
2. the underground stem of this plant, which is used fresh or powdered as a flavouring or crystallized as a sweetmeat
3. any of certain related plants
4. 1. a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      ginger hair

5. informal.
   liveliness; vigour
6. informal.
   ˈɡɪŋə a person with ginger hair

verb

1. tr to add the spice ginger to (a dish)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ginger¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English ginger, gingivere from Old French gingivre, from Latin gingiber, for zingiberi from Greek zingíberis; replacing Old English gingiber from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of ginger¹

C13: from Old French gingivre, from Medieval Latin gingiber, from Latin zinziberi, from Greek zingiberis, probably from Sanskrit śr̄ngaveram, from śr̄nga- horn + vera- body, referring to its shape

Example Sentences

“I always loved warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves,” Hutchings wrote.

From Salon

They were mixed with the go-to expensive spices of the day: cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, ginger and sugar.

From Salon

They are both redheads and David jokes: “I always say, the Taliban were targeting gingers on that day.”

From BBC

I love Erewhon, but I don’t want to pay for the ginger shots so I like to do that in the morning while I’m having my coffee.

From Los Angeles Times

I opted for stews and soups infused with spices such as ginger, turmeric and cinnamon, particularly Harrington’s red lentil dal recipe.

From Los Angeles Times