wintergreen

[ win-ter-green ]

noun

1. Also called checkerberry. a small, creeping, evergreen shrub, Gaultheria procumbens, of the heath family, common in eastern North America, having white, nodding, bell-shaped flowers, a bright-red, berrylike fruit, and aromatic leaves that yield a volatile oil.
2. the oil of this shrub; wintergreen oil; methyl salicylate.
3. the flavor of oil of wintergreen or something flavored with it.
4. any of various other plants of the same genus.
5. any of various small evergreen herbs of the genera Pyrola and Chimaphila.

wintergreen

/ ˈwɪntəˌɡriːn /

noun

1. Also calledboxberrycheckerberryteaberryspiceberrypartridgeberry any of several evergreen ericaceous shrubs of the genus Gaultheria, esp G. procumbens, of E North America, which has white bell-shaped flowers and edible red berries
2. oil of wintergreen
   an aromatic compound, formerly made from this and various other plants but now synthesized: used medicinally and for flavouring
3. any of various plants of the genus Pyrola, such as P. minor ( common wintergreen ), of temperate and arctic regions, having rounded leaves and small pink globose flowers: family Pyrolaceae Usual US nameshinleaf
4. any of several plants of the genera Orthilia and Moneses: family Pyrolaceae
5. chickweed wintergreen
   a primulaceous plant, Trientalis europaea, of N Europe and N Asia, having white flowers and leaves arranged in a whorl

Word History and Origins

Origin of wintergreen¹

1540–50; translation of Dutch wintergroen or German Wintergrün

Word History and Origins

Origin of wintergreen¹

C16: from Dutch wintergroen or German Wintergrün; see winter , green

Example Sentences

Flavors from the period like clove and sassafras have given way to an ambiguous array of what might best be called fruit-adjacent flavors, and wintergreen.

From Seattle Times

Ms. Bishop’s parents had bought the tan home with the wintergreen metal roof around 1981, settling in the southwestern city that would come to be known for its pristine beaches and wealth.

From New York Times

I caught a whiff of peppermint Or was it wintergreen?

From Washington Post

It’s made with a blend of water and natural plant oils, has a refreshing wintergreen scent, and comes packaged in a nonaerosol, biodegradable spray bottle.

From Seattle Times

Grocery stores will be stocked with single boxes and five-count packs of candies with the original colors and flavors, including wintergreen, orange, lemon, grape, cherry, blue raspberry and banana.

From Salon