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.

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 byup ).

   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,  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

The main course, a whole fried sea bream, served with a ginger fish sauce caramel, peanuts, herbs, lemon, and wild pepper leaves to delicately wrap each fried morsel, truly blew me away.

From Salon

The privately-educated Liverpool man described as white, of broad build with ginger hair, blue eyes and a small scar on the left side of his head, is considered one of Britain's most wanted fugitives.

From BBC

“The military-grade haircut is gone, in favour of a luxuriant ginger mullet.”

From Salon

TJ’s take on a classic Vietnamese dish includes minced and fried shrimp and veggies that are generously seasoned with a blend of ginger, garlic, sesame oil and lemongrass.

From Salon

In other words, she appeared to equate antisemitism with the prejudice experienced by people with ginger hair.

From BBC