winter

¹win·ter

noun \ˈwin-tər\

Definition of WINTER

1

: the season between autumn and spring comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of December, January, and February or as reckoned astronomically extending from the December solstice to the March equinox

2

: the colder half of the year

3

: year <happened many winters ago>

4

: a period of inactivity or decay

Examples of WINTER

1. They spend winters in Florida.
2. We're in for a cold winter this year, I hear.
3. She traveled there two winters ago.
4. the last day of winter

Origin of WINTER

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wintar winter and perhaps to Lithuanian vanduo water, Old English wæter — more at water

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WINTER

Synonyms

layoff, time-out, downtime

Related Words

break, breath, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess; abeyance, doldrums, dormancy, latency, quiescence, suspense, suspension

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

Rhymes with WINTER

hinter, linter, minter, Pinter, printer, sinter, splinter, sprinter, squinter, tinter

²winter

verb

win·teredwin·ter·ing \ˈwin-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of WINTER

intransitive verb

1

: to pass the winter <winters in the Caribbean>

2

: to feed or find food during the winter —used with on

transitive verb

: to keep, feed, or manage during the winter

Examples of WINTER

1. The birds will winter in the southern part of the country.
2. My family winters in Florida.
3. The farm agreed to winter our horses for us.

First Known Use of WINTER

14th century

Rhymes with WINTER

hinter, minter, sinter, splinter, sprinter, squinter, tinter

³winter

adjective

Definition of WINTER

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for winter <a winter vacation> <winter clothes>

2

: sown in the autumn and harvested in the following spring or summer <winter wheat> <winter rye> — compare summer

First Known Use of WINTER

14th century