ginkgo
or ging·ko
[ ging-koh, jing- ]
/ ˈgɪŋ koʊ, ˈdʒɪŋ- /
noun, plural gink·goes.
a large shade tree, Ginkgo biloba, native to China, having fan-shaped leaves and fleshy seeds with edible kernels: the sole surviving species of the gymnosperm family Ginkgoaceae, which thrived in the Jurassic Period, and existing almost exclusively in cultivation.
Also called
maidenhair-tree.
Origin of ginkgo
1765–75; < NL representation of Japanese
ginkyō, equivalent to
gin silver (< Chinese) +
kyō apricot (< Chin)
Words nearby ginkgo
ginglymoid,
ginglymoid joint,
ginglymus,
gingrich,
gink,
ginkgo,
ginned,
ginnel,
ginnery,
ginnie mae,
ginnungagap
Example sentences from the Web for ginkgo
British Dictionary definitions for ginkgo
ginkgo
gingko (ˈɡɪŋkəʊ)
/ (ˈɡɪŋkɡəʊ) /
noun plural -goes or -koes
a widely planted ornamental Chinese gymnosperm tree, Ginkgo biloba, with fan-shaped deciduous leaves and fleshy yellow fruit: phylum Ginkgophyta . It is used in herbal remedies and as a food supplement
Also called: maidenhair tree
Word Origin for ginkgo
C18: from Japanese
ginkyō, from Ancient Chinese
yin silver +
hang apricot
Scientific definitions for ginkgo
ginkgo
A deciduous, dioecious tree (Ginkgo biloba) which is the sole surviving member of the Ginkgoales, an order of gymnosperms that was extremely widespread in the Mesozoic era. It belongs to a genus which has changed very little since the end of the Jurassic period. The tree, a native of China, has fan-shaped leaves and fleshy yellowish seeds containing an edible kernel. Ginkgoes are often grown as ornamental street trees.