ginkgo

noun gink·go \ ˈgiŋ-(ˌ)kō also ˈgiŋk-(ˌ)gō \

variants: or less commonly gingko

Definition of ginkgo

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 :ginkgo biloba

See ginkgo defined for English-language learners

See ginkgo defined for kids

Recent Examples of ginkgo from the Web

Imagine a landscape where redwood-like metasequoias towered over the hills; slim alder-like trees, ginkgos and vines dwelled at the forest margins; and lush ferns, cycads and horsetails packed the swamps.

— kate siber, Alaska Dispatch News, "When dinosaurs ruled Alaska," 19 Aug. 2017
These include medications that thin the blood (aspirin; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen; warfarin; and newer oral anti-clotting agents) and dietary supplements such as fish oil, ginger, ginkgo biloba and ginseng.

— consumer reports, Washington Post, "When should people worry about bruising?," 19 Aug. 2017
Cranberry seed and ginkgo buff away dead cells and leave behind a pinch of radiance.

— adam hurly, GQ, "The Best Face Masks Will Do Wonders for Your Mug," 17 Aug. 2017
Don’t bother The NAS report found no evidence supporting the use of ginkgo biloba and Vitamin E, which are widely marketed to people concerned about brain health.

— judith graham, Philly.com, "New evidence that lifestyle may be powerful medicine to prevent dementia," 20 July 2017
Don’t Bother The NAS report found no evidence supporting the use of ginkgo biloba and vitamin E, which are widely marketed to people concerned about brain health.

— judith graham, Kaiser Health News, "These Preventive Measures Might Help Delay Dementia Or Cognitive Decline," 20 July 2017
The same caution goes for herbal supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, which is often touted to improve memory and cognition.

— consumer reports, Washington Post, "How to maintain, or even improve, your memory as you age," 3 June 2017
Now known as a common street tree, ginkgo biloba lays claim to a history that vastly predates humans.

— smithsonian.com, Smithsonian, "The World Told Through the Eyes of the Ginkgo Tree," 9 May 2017
For years, the District Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over street-side trees, has used spraying to curb the ginkgo’s assault on the olfactory senses.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "Annual effort to stymie the stink of ginkgo fruit set to begin in D.C.," 29 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ginkgo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.