ginger
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a spicy, strong-tasting root used in cooking and drinks.
n.the pungent, aromatic rhizome of the tropical plant Zingiber officinale, used as a culinary spice or medicinal stimulant.
Simple“She added some fresh ginger to the stir-fry to give it a spicy kick.”
In context“The recipe calls for finely grated ginger, which provides a sharp contrast to the sweetness of the honey glaze.”
Synonymsrhizome - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a sweet, bubbly drink like soda or pop.
n.any carbonated soft drink; a generic term for soda.
Simple“Do you want a bottle of ginger with your lunch?”
In context“In parts of western Scotland, 'ginger' remains the standard dialectal term for any variety of carbonated beverage.”
Teacher's tipThis usage is specific to Scotland. In most other places, 'ginger' only refers to ginger-flavoured drinks.
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.having a reddish-brown or orange-brown colour.
adj.denoting a specific range of reddish-brown or orange-brown hues, typically used for hair, fur, or wood.
Simple“The ginger cat sat on the wall watching the birds in the garden.”
In context“The fox's thick ginger coat made it easy to spot against the fresh white snow.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to make something more lively or interesting.
v.to enliven or stimulate a situation or person; usually appears in the phrasal verb 'ginger up'.
Simple“We need to ginger up the office party with some better music.”
In context“The marketing team attempted to ginger up the brand's image by launching a series of provocative social media campaigns.”
UsageUsually used with the particle 'up'.
A diminutive of Virginia; also a nickname for someone or something with ginger-coloured hair.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.