peppermint
Americannoun
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an herb, Mentha piperita, of the mint family, cultivated for its aromatic, pungent oil.
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Also called peppermint oil. this oil, or a preparation made from it.
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a lozenge or confection flavored with peppermint.
noun
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a temperate mint plant, Mentha piperita, with purple or white flowers: cultivated for its downy leaves, which yield a pungent oil
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the oil from this plant, which is used as a flavouring
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a sweet flavoured with peppermint
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of peppermint
Explanation
Peppermint is the familiar aromatic flavoring you'll find in toothpaste, gum, and those round, red and white candies that your grandmother always keeps in a little china bowl on her coffee table. Peppermint, the most common type of mint plant, has fresh, fragrant leaves, and the word peppermint is also the name of an oil extracted from those leaves. The oil and leaves of the peppermint plant are used in many products, including ice cream, tea, and shampoo. The word peppermint was coined in the 17th century, from pepper and mint, probably inspired by its "spicy," tingling flavor.
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.
The iconic seasonal duo of the Peppermint Mocha Signature Latte and Toasted White Chocolate Signature Latte are also making their grand comeback.
From Salon • Oct. 29, 2024
Platforms like “RuPaul’s Drag Race” have given artists like Peppermint and Jinkx Monsoon wider visibility than even stars of the form, such as Joey Arias and Justin Vivian Bond, have enjoyed.
From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2024
A lifelong “Peanuts” fan, he named the comic’s two main characters, Marcy and Joe, after Peppermint Patty’s best friend, Marcie, and Snoopy’s alter ego, Joe Cool.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2024
After Thanksgiving, he’ll move on to his Christmas candy, York Peppermint Patties.
From Washington Times • Oct. 24, 2023
Jenna finally selects a Peppermint Patty, and we head back to the counter to pay for the candy.
From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
