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
   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
   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

Evidently this imposingly named product is practically a lanolin ointment containing oil of wintergreen and menthol.

From Project Gutenberg

A diminutive pine-tree, in a pot hung round with wintergreen, stood in the centre of the table.

From Project Gutenberg

Flavor the pink mass with wintergreen and the white one with peppermint.

From Project Gutenberg

The following is a good one: Make a paste of gum tragacanth and add a little oil of wintergreen.

From Project Gutenberg

"So do I," agreed Mabel, her mouth full of big, red wintergreen berries.

From Project Gutenberg