ENGLISH
REFERENCE

juniper

n. C / U
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdʒunəpɝ// UK //dʒˈuːnɪpɐ// ju·niper Archaic Slang

n. a small evergreen tree or bush that has berries with a strong smell. These berries are often used to give gin its special flavor.

n. an evergreen coniferous tree or shrub of the cypress family, typically bearing berry-like cones. The aromatic fruit is widely used as a culinary spice and as the primary flavoring agent in gin.


SIMPLE

The hills are covered in wild juniper bushes.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef added crushed juniper berries to the sauce to give the venison a sharp, pine-like aroma.

COMPLEX

Ecologists are monitoring the spread of juniper across the limestone pavement, as its dense growth can shade out rare wildflower species that depend on open sunlight.

Synonyms
Origin

From Late Middle English junyper, juniperus, from Latin iūniperus (“juniper-tree”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the wood or the plant species generally; countable when referring to individual trees or specific varieties.

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