juniper

noun

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 Another theory is that the juniper berries used in gin have anti-inflammatory properties. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, "105-Year-Old Recovered From Covid-19, Her Tip? Eating Gin-Soaked Raisins," 27 Feb. 2021 The ale is made with juniper berries, which impart a nice dryness on the finish and yield slight pine. — Marc Bona, cleveland, "11 beers from 11 states for February, from Mardi Gras Bock to big Stouts," 7 Feb. 2021 The undulating path dips and climbs through wide open spaces where domestic cattle graze and deer might be seen darting among scant stands of juniper trees. — Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, "Off the beaten path: This Arizona hike unfolds with views and historical artifacts," 3 Dec. 2020 From the vision of juniper as a cure for ailments to recipes with gin from around the world and classic cocktails, the author covers quite a bit here. — Marc Bona, cleveland, "45 cooking, beer, wine, recipe books – 2020 holiday gift guide," 7 Dec. 2020 The air smells of juniper and pine, and my pulse is racing. — Marcia Desanctis, Vogue, "How Equine Therapy Can Help Us Face Our Fears," 2 Dec. 2020 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

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

4 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Juniper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juniper. Accessed 8 Mar. 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)