winter

American  

[win-ter] / ˈwɪn tər /

noun

1. the cold season between autumn and spring in northern latitudes (in the Northern Hemisphere from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox; in the Southern Hemisphere from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox).

2. the months of December, January, and February in the U.S., and of November, December, and January in Great Britain.

3. cold weather.

   a touch of winter in northern Florida.

4. the colder half of the year (summer ).

5. a whole year as represented by this season.

   a man of sixty winters.

6. a period like winter, as the last or final period of life; a period of decline, decay, inertia, dreariness, or adversity.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of winter.

   a winter sunset.

2. (of fruit and vegetables) of a kind that may be kept for use during the winter.

3. planted in the autumn to be harvested in the spring or early summer.

   winter rye.

verb (used without object)

1. to spend or pass the winter.

   to winter in Italy.

2. to keep, feed, or manage during the winter, as plants or cattle.

   plants wintering indoors.

winter British  

/ ˈwɪntə /

noun

1. 1. (sometimes capital) the coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring, astronomically from the December solstice to the March equinox in the N hemisphere and at the opposite time of year in the S hemisphere

   2. ( as modifier )

      winter pasture

2. the period of cold weather associated with the winter

3. a time of decline, decay, etc

4. poetic a year represented by this season

   a man of 72 winters

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verb

1. (intr) to spend the winter in a specified place

2. to keep or feed (farm animals, etc) during the winter or (of farm animals) to be kept or fed during the winter

Other Word Forms

• winterer noun
• winterish adjective
• winterishly adverb
• winterless adjective

Etymology

Origin of winter

before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Winter, Old Norse vetr, Gothic wintrus; (v.) Middle English, derivative of the noun; akin to wet, water

Example Sentences

Should the Americans suddenly catch fire, they could even begin to dream about the all-time winter record of 16 golds, set by Norway at the last Olympics.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Not that much,” he said, “but I’ve grown an inch since winter break.”

From Literature

In the winter the two of them made brooms to sell.

From Literature

But all that ended one crisp, cold winter day in February.

From Literature

The warning comes ahead of the February half term, when a greater number of British holidaymakers are expected to travel to the popular winter destination.

From BBC

Related Words

• cold