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juniper

American  
[joo-nuh-per] / ˈdʒu nə pər /

noun

  • junipers
    plural
  1. any evergreen, coniferous shrub or tree of the genus Juniperus, especially J. communis, having cones that resemble dark-blue or blackish berries used in flavoring gin and in medicine as a diuretic.

  2. a tree mentioned in the Old Testament, said to be the retem.


juniper British  
/ ˈdʒuːnɪpə /

noun

  1. any coniferous shrub or small tree of the genus Juniperus, of the N hemisphere, having purple berry-like cones. The cones of J. communis ( common or dwarf juniper ) are used as a flavouring in making gin See also red cedar

  2. any of various similar trees, grown mainly as ornamentals

  3. Old Testament one of the trees used in the building of Solomon's temple (I Kings 6:15, 34) and for shipbuilding (Ezekiel 27:5)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of juniper

1350–1400; Middle English junipere < Latin jūniperus


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Among the successes of the Biosphere's first decade was the return of juniper, a native shrub that had been lost from the island.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

And Pernod Ricard launched a non-alcoholic version of gin, along with Cinzano Spritz 0% and Ceder’s, a gin-like non-alcoholic beverage with botanical notes of juniper, rooibos and buchu.

From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2025

Eventually, he settled on the eight most frequently mentioned: desert dates, Yemeni Sidr honey, sycamore figs, Israeli golden raisins, prickly juniper berries, carob fruit, black cumin and frankincense.

From New York Times ● Jun. 20, 2024

The pinyon pines and juniper trees that fill the high desert, seen by many as an invasive scourge, are drawing interest as a source of renewable energy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2024

Then his tracks went to a piiion tree and then under the juniper where he slept another night.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

You can drive between or hike on 16 trails threaded through the rocks, junipers and some Joshua trees too.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2024

According to the study, this drying occurred between 16,000 and 13,000 years ago, followed by the destruction of forests and the replacement of trees like oaks and junipers with more fire-resistant plants like pines.

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2023

He said the pie's flavours had been inspired by the deer who live in the local countryside and their habitats and includes venison, redcurrants, mushrooms, junipers - and dark chocolate.

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2023

There were no environmental reviews or public hearings before work crews began widening roads and tearing down oaks and junipers.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2022

He watched them disappear into the junipers of the wide canyon to the west, and then he switched his stubby tail around his haunches a few times, and trotted after them.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

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