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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:

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

This area used to be covered by a thick juniper forest, but these could have been cut to facilitate iron production.

From BBC Oct. 25, 2024

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

When Varlin Higbee eyes the scrubby forest of pinyon pines and juniper trees that fill the high desert outside this old Union Pacific Railroad town, there’s just one thought that crosses his mind:

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 11, 2024

Lopsang Jangbu’s father, Ngawang Sya Kya—an ordained lama—burned juniper incense and chanted Buddhist scripture beneath a metallic gray sky.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Replace flammable plants such as junipers with succulents.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 12, 2025

The state said that along with grass, the main trees burning in the fires were pines and junipers.

From New York Times Jun. 19, 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

Blackbirds swarmed above the junipers; their noise increased with the dawn light and they fluttered and circled their roosting places restlessly.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

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