Definition of ginger
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(1)
: a thickened pungent aromatic rhizome that is used as a spice and sometimes medicinally
(2)
: the spice usually prepared by drying and grinding ginger
b
: any of a genus (Zingiber of the family Zingiberaceae, the ginger family) of herbs with pungent aromatic rhizomes
especially
: a widely cultivated tropical herb (Z. officinale) that supplies most commercial ginger — compare wild ginger
2
: pep
the ginger to … work hard— Willa Cather
3a
: a light reddish or reddish-brown color
ginger hair
b
chiefly British, sometimes offensive
: a person with red hair : redhead sense 1
The Breda Redhead Days festival—which grew out of a photo shoot by Dutch artist Bart Rouwenhorst—now attracts five or six thousand gingers from around the world.— Bruce Ingram
ginger
verbDefinition of ginger (Entry 2 of 2)
: to make lively : pep up
ginger up the tourist trade — The New York Times
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for ginger
The first known use of ginger was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century