Main Entry: ju·ni·per

Pronunciation: \ˈjü-nə-pər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English junipere, from Latin juniperus

Date: 14th century

1 a : any of numerous shrubs or trees (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family with leaves resembling needles or scales and female cones usually resembling berries b : the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper; especially : the bluish one of a common juniper (J. communis) which is used to flavor foods and from which is obtained an acrid essential oil used especially as a flavoring in gin and liqueurs —called also juniper berry
2 : any of several coniferous trees resembling true junipers