Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Ginseng

Gin′seng

,
Noun.
[Chinese.]
(Bot.)
A plant of the genus
Aralia
, the root of which is highly valued as a medicine among the Chinese. The Chinese plant (
Aralia Schinseng
) has become so rare that the American (
A. quinquefolia
) has largely taken its place, and its root is now an article of export from America to China. The root, when dry, is of a yellowish white color, with a sweetness in the taste somewhat resembling that of licorice, combined with a slight aromatic bitterness.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ginseng

GIN'SENG

,
Noun.
[This word is probably Chinese, and it is said by Grosier, to signify the resemblance of a man, or man's thigh. He observes also that the root in the language of the Iroquois is called garentoquen, which signifies legs and thighs separated.]
A plant, of the genus Panax, the root of which is in great demand among the Chinese. It is found in the Northern parts of Asia and America, and is an article of export from America to China. It has a jointed, fleshy, taper root, as large as a man's finger, which when dry is of a yellowish white color, with a mucilaginous sweetness in the taste, somewhat resembling that of liquorice, accompanied with a slight bitterness.

Definition 2024

ginseng

ginseng

See also: Ginseng

English

Wikispecies

Ginseng.
Ginseng roots.

Alternative forms

Noun

ginseng ‎(plural ginsengs)

  1. Any of several plants, of the genus Panax, having forked roots supposed to have medicinal properties.
  2. The root of such a plant, or an extract of these roots.
    • 1855, Sir Richard Burton, Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah, Dover 1964, page 56-7:
      When the Afghan princes find it necessary to employ Chob-Chini, (the Jin-seng, or China root so celebrated as a purifier, tonic, and aphrodisiac) they choose the spring season.
    • 2013 March 1, David S. Senchina, “Athletics and Herbal Supplements”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, page 134:
      Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.

Translations

French

Etymology

From Mandarin.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʒin.sɛŋ/, /ʒin.sɑ̃ɡ/, /ʒɛ̃.sɑ̃/

Noun

ginseng m ‎(usually uncountable, plural ginsengs)

  1. ginseng (plant)

Latin

Adjective

ginseng

  1. (New Latin) ginseng (attributive)

Derived terms

Portuguese

Noun

ginseng m (usually uncountable, plural ginsengs)

  1. ginseng (any of several plants of the genus Panax)
  2. ginseng (root or extract of the ginseng plant)

Etymology

Borrowing from Mandarin 人參 ‎(rénshēn).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdʒɪnsɛŋ/, /ˈdʒɪnsɪŋ/

Similar Results