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. See wild ginger, galangal
   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

The most strenuous thing about the recipe — and by “strenuous” I mean mildly time-consuming — was peeling and microplaning fresh ginger, because I am a ginger freak and thus always use at least twice the amount called for.

From Eater

The duck bone broth, paired with thin rice noodles and crisp with scallions, fairly hums with ginger.

From Washington Post

Now there’s a ginger-ale version too, not that anyone asked for it.

From Time

Some studies show that ginger can have a therapeutic effect on nausea, though whether it brings significant or mild relief varies from person to person.

From Popular-Science

There’s the basic categories you’d expect in a holiday cookie list — a linzer, a bar cookie, a ginger cookie — but all with a twist of some sort.

From Eater

“I would recommend ginger tea first thing in the morning as a great way to ward off an upset stomach,” says White.

From The Daily Beast

Ginger discrimination—particularly among boys—is a real problem, says artist Thomas Knights.

From The Daily Beast

The teasing is so common that is has been accepted as “the standard ginger bullying” by those who Knights has encountered.

From The Daily Beast

The names continue to pour in: Rihanna, Scarlett Johansson, and Rose McGowan—even though their ginger locks were only temporary.

From The Daily Beast

He finally felt comfortable enough to embrace his ginger roots.

From The Daily Beast

Inside were twelve ginger cookies with scalloped edges, smelling faintly of cinnamon and sugar.

From Project Gutenberg

You've done a big thing to-day, and if you hadn't had more pluck and ginger than common, it's a cinch you'd have lost out.

From Project Gutenberg

Ginger-beer could also be procured, and there were suspicions that the bottles so called contained something contraband.

From Project Gutenberg

Cinnamon Fly,—feather from Landrail,—orange and straw coloured silk for body,—ginger hackle for legs.

From Project Gutenberg

The little bantam can crow quicker, oftener and with more ginger than any other rooster on the place.

From Project Gutenberg