juniper

noun

ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər How to pronounce juniper (audio)
1
a
: any of numerous shrubs or trees (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family with leaves resembling needles or scales and female cones usually resembling berries
b
: the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper
especially : the bluish one of a common juniper (J. communis) which is used to flavor foods and from which is obtained an acrid essential oil used especially as a flavoring in gin and liqueurs

called also juniper berry

2
: any of several coniferous trees resembling true junipers

Examples of juniper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hallmark of London Dry gin is its strong juniper flavor. Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 The scent’s counterpart, Gentle Fluidity Silver, contains the same notes but puts juniper berry front and center for a fresher, more herbaceous feel. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024 Goetz also calls out juniper and boxwood foliage for notoriously smelling like cat urine, hawthorn tree flowers for smelling like carrion, and the flashy flowers of crown fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis) bulbs for mimicking a skunk. Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Oct. 2024 Another is ice cream made from pig’s blood and filled with a ganache of juniper oil and deer-blood garum. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for juniper 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English junipere, from Latin juniperus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of juniper was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near juniper

Cite this Entry

“Juniper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juniper. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

juniper

noun
ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər How to pronounce juniper (audio)
1
a
: any of numerous evergreen shrubs and trees that are related to the pines but produce female cones resembling berries
b
: the berrylike cone or fruit of a juniper
2
: any of various evergreen trees resembling true junipers

Medical Definition

juniper

noun
ju·​ni·​per ˈjü-nə-pər How to pronounce juniper (audio)
: an evergreen shrub or tree (genus Juniperus) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae)
especially : one having a prostrate or shrubby habit (as Juniperus communis)

More from Merriam-Webster on juniper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!