ginkgo

noun

gink·go ˈgiŋ-(ˌ)kō

also ˈgiŋk-(ˌ)gō

variants or less commonly gingko

plural ginkgoes or ginkgos also gingkos or gingkoes

: a gymnospermous dioecious tree (Ginkgo biloba) of eastern China that is widely grown as an ornamental or shade tree and has fan-shaped leaves and foul-smelling yellowish fleshy seed coats

called also maidenhair tree

: ginkgo biloba

Did you know?

There is only one living representative of the gymnosperm order Ginkgoales, and that is the tree Ginkgo biloba. Native to China, the ginkgo has existed for some 250 million years and is often termed a living fossil. It has long been planted in Chinese and Japanese temple gardens, and is valued in many parts of the world as an attractive, fungus- and insect-resistant ornamental tree. It tolerates cold weather and can survive the adverse atmospheric conditions of urban areas. The light-colored wood, is soft and weak and has little economic value. The leaves are fan-shaped and leathery. The silvery nut, when roasted, is considered a delicacy. Studies have suggested that ginkgo supplements can enhance memory function in the elderly and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Examples of ginkgo in a Sentence

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For example, ginkgo can interact with medications that prevent blood clots, like warfarin and aspirin.22 Ask a healthcare provider or pharmacist about potential interactions before using any memory-boosting supplement. —

Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 23 Oct. 2024 The oaks begin yellowing like the pages of an old manuscript, the maples put on a fiery crimson show, and the ginkgoes fairly glow. —

Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2024 At 150th and Grand Concourse, ginkgo fruit on a bench showed evidence of having been gnawed by rodents. —

Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 Some amass leaves or seeds or even images, such as Jianming Shen, who photographs ancient ginkgoes of particular significance in eastern China. —

Kathleen Yale, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for ginkgo