mint

[mint]

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noun

any aromatic herb of the genus Mentha, having opposite leaves and small, whorled flowers, as the spearmint and peppermint.Compare mint family.

a soft or hard confection, often shaped like a wafer, that is usually flavored with peppermint and often served after lunch or dinner.

any of various flavored hard candies packaged as a roll of small round wafers.

adjective

made or flavored with mint: mint tea.

Origin of mint

before 1000; Middle English, Old English minte (cognate with Old High German minza) < Latin ment(h)a < Greek mínthē

mint

[mint]

noun

a place where coins, paper currency, special medals, etc., are produced under government authority.

a place where something is produced or manufactured

a vast amount, especially of money: He made a mint in oil wells.

adjective

Philately. (of a stamp) being in its original, unused condition.

unused or appearing to be newly made and never used: a book in mint condition.

verb (used with object)

to make (coins, money, etc.) by stamping metal.

to turn (metal) into coins: to mint gold into sovereigns.

to make or fabricate; invent: to mint words.

Origin of mint

before 900; Middle English mynt, Old English mynet coin < Latin monēta coin, mint, after the temple of Juno Monēta, where Roman money was coined

Related formsmint·er, noun

mint

[mint]Scot. and North England

noun

intent; purpose.

an attempt; try; effort.

verb (used with object)

to try (something); attempt.

to take aim at (something) with a gun.

to hit or strike at (someone or something).

verb (used without object)

to try; attempt.

to take aim.

Origin of mint

before 900; (v.) Middle English minten, Old English (ge)myntan to intend; akin to mind; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for mint

perfect, virgin, original, wad, fortune, pot, million, packet, boodle, pile, bundle, heap, roll, fashion, provide, cast, fabricate, issue, make, punch

Examples from the Web for mint

Contemporary Examples of mint

By the way, a mint condition 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible can now sell for as much as $350,000.
Nationalism on Four Wheels
Clive Irving
October 18, 2014
The true origins of the mint julep, however, stretch back considerably further.
The Storied Origins of the Classic Mint Julep
Dane Huckelbridge
May 3, 2014
So when you take that first frosty sip of your mint julep in celebration of the Kentucky Derby, enjoy it.
The Storied Origins of the Classic Mint Julep
Dane Huckelbridge
May 3, 2014
You might have guessed by now: Monsanto made a mint off rBGH and insisted it was perfectly safe.
Reporter Loses Her Job for Staying Honest
Moral Courage
March 17, 2014
“We say a cup of mint tea without bubbles is like a djellaba without a hood,” said Mouha.
On Foot in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco
Joanna Eede
January 22, 2014

Historical Examples of mint

We stuffed the pink dainties with mint, and baked them in balls of clay.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
That brown skull was more precious to him than a mint of money.
Buried Cities, Part 2
Jennie Hall
The preserve of tigers alone is worth a mint of money, David.'
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
Now a mint was set up in Eden Vale, and the coinage underwent a reform.
Freeland
Theodor Hertzka
Tak tent what ye say, or mint at sayin, to persuaud him:—Isy 'ill be upo ye!
Salted With Fire
George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for mint

mint

noun

any N temperate plant of the genus Mentha, having aromatic leaves and spikes of small typically mauve flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates). The leaves of some species are used for seasoning and flavouringSee also peppermint, spearmint, horsemint, water mint

stone mint another name for dittany (def. 2)

a sweet flavoured with mint

Derived Formsminty, adjective

Word Origin for mint

Old English minte, from Latin mentha, from Greek minthē; compare Old High German minza

mint

noun

a place where money is coined by governmental authority

a very large amount of moneyhe made a mint in business

adjective

(of coins, postage stamps, etc) in perfect condition as issued

British informal excellent; impressive

in mint condition in perfect condition; as if new

verb

to make (coins) by stamping metal

(tr) to invent (esp phrases or words)

Derived Formsminter, noun

Word Origin for mint

Old English mynet coin, from Latin monēta money, mint, from the temple of Juno Monēta, used as a mint in ancient Rome

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

Word Origin and History for mint

n.1

aromatic herb, Old English minte (8c.), from West Germanic *minta (cf. Old Saxon minta, M.D. mente, Old High German minza, German Minze), a borrowing from Latin menta, mentha "mint," from Greek minthe, personified as a nymph transformed into an herb by Proserpine, probably a loan-word from a lost Mediterranean language.

n.2

place where money is coined, early 15c., from Old English mynet "coin, coinage, money" (8c.), from West Germanic *munita (cf. Old Saxon munita, Old Frisian menote, Middle Dutch munte, Old High German munizza, German münze), from Latin moneta "mint" (see money). Earlier word for "place where money is coined" was minter (early 12c.). General sense of "a vast sum of money" is from 1650s.

"to stamp metal to make coins," 1540s, from mint (n.2). Related: Minted; minting. Minter "one who stamps coins to create money" is from early 12c.

adj.

"perfect" (like a freshly minted coin), 1887 (in mint condition), from mint (n.2).