juniper

ju·ni·per | \ ˈjü-nə-pər

\

Definition of juniper

1a : 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

Examples of juniper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Arrange the beetroot, carrots, cucumber, needles and juniper berries at the bottom of the jar and pour in the pickling liquid. — Lindsay Campbell, Smithsonian Magazine, "You Can Eat Your Christmas Tree. Here’s How to Do It.," 30 Dec. 2020 Rainbow miniature trees in mauve, cocoa, peach, sage, dark gray, olive, pine, juniper or teal ($8-$15 each from 6 inches to 15 inches tall) bring a pinch of color and fun to a bookshelf or mantel. — oregonlive, "10 easy ways to add holiday sparkle to your home: A brass wreath, copper ornament, mini teal tree," 28 Nov. 2020 Red cedars, which are in the juniper family, are the most common northern Illinois evergreen. — Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, "Lake County’s aromatic evergreens beckon in winter," 24 Dec. 2020 Here's just a taste of what to expect: Juicy Tree (10.1% ABV), made with blue spruce tips, juniper berries and cranberries. — Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, "Top 5 Michigan craft beer holiday packs to get you through the rest of 2020," 2 Dec. 2020 Renee Charley picks female juniper berries to make ghost-beads. — Kiliii Yüyan, Travel + Leisure, "From Everyday Life to Winter Rituals, These Photographs Show the Life of the Navajo Nation in Arizona," 26 Nov. 2020 Cut small branches from a magnolia or conifer (Christmas tree trimmings, cedar, juniper) and stick them into the pot to cover the bare stems. — Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "Nothing says holiday like poinsettias -- make yours last through the season with these tips," 1 Dec. 2020 Kristin Mitchell embracing the snowfall under a juniper tree as it is shaken, taking a traditional Navajo snow bath at Spider Rock. — Kiliii Yüyan, Travel + Leisure, "From Everyday Life to Winter Rituals, These Photographs Show the Life of the Navajo Nation in Arizona," 26 Nov. 2020 Leyland cypress and blue point juniper are good choices for small landscape trees. — ExpressNews.com, "Calvin Finch: Your guide to living Christmas trees that can be planted in San Antonio gardens after the holidays," 26 Nov. 2020

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

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Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Juniper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juniper. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for juniper

juniper

noun

English Language Learners Definition of juniper

: an evergreen shrub or tree that has tiny fruits that look like berries

See the full definition for juniper in the English Language Learners Dictionary

juniper

noun

ju·ni·per | \ ˈjü-nə-pər

\

Kids Definition of juniper

: an evergreen tree or shrub related to the pines but having tiny cones resembling berries

juniper

noun

ju·ni·per | \ ˈjü-nə-pər

\

Medical Definition of juniper

: an evergreen shrub or tree (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae) especially : one having a prostrate or shrubby habit (as Juniperus communis)