ginkgo

noun

gink·​go ˈgiŋ-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce ginkgo (audio)
 also  ˈgiŋk-(ˌ)gō
variants or less commonly gingko
plural ginkgoes or ginkgos also gingkos or gingkoes
1
: a gymnospermous dioecious tree (Ginkgo biloba) of eastern China that is widely grown as an ornamental or shade tree and has fan-shaped leaves and foul-smelling yellowish fleshy seed coats

called also maidenhair tree

2

Did you know?

There is only one living representative of the gymnosperm order Ginkgoales, and that is the tree Ginkgo biloba. Native to China, the ginkgo has existed for some 250 million years and is often termed a living fossil. It has long been planted in Chinese and Japanese temple gardens, and is valued in many parts of the world as an attractive, fungus- and insect-resistant ornamental tree. It tolerates cold weather and can survive the adverse atmospheric conditions of urban areas. The light-colored wood, is soft and weak and has little economic value. The leaves are fan-shaped and leathery. The silvery nut, when roasted, is considered a delicacy. Studies have suggested that ginkgo supplements can enhance memory function in the elderly and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Examples of ginkgo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
For example, ginkgo can interact with medications that prevent blood clots, like warfarin and aspirin.22 Ask a healthcare provider or pharmacist about potential interactions before using any memory-boosting supplement. Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 23 Oct. 2024 The oaks begin yellowing like the pages of an old manuscript, the maples put on a fiery crimson show, and the ginkgoes fairly glow. Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2024 At 150th and Grand Concourse, ginkgo fruit on a bench showed evidence of having been gnawed by rodents. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 Some amass leaves or seeds or even images, such as Jianming Shen, who photographs ancient ginkgoes of particular significance in eastern China. Kathleen Yale, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for ginkgo 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Ginkgo, from Japanese ginkyō

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ginkgo was in 1773

Dictionary Entries Near ginkgo

Cite this Entry

“Ginkgo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ginkgo. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ginkgo

noun
gink·​go
variants also gingko
ˈgiŋ-kō How to pronounce ginkgo (audio)
 also  ˈgiŋk-gō
plural ginkgoes or ginkgos
: a large Chinese tree with fan-shaped leaves and bad-smelling fruit that is often grown as a shade tree

More from Merriam-Webster on ginkgo

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