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)

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.