Definition

Noun 1. A low-growing evergreen plant: Refers to several species of small, perennial plants that remain green throughout the winter. These plants are often found in woodland areas. 2. A spicy, aromatic oil or flavoring: Refers to the oil (methyl salicylate) derived from the leaves of certain wintergreen plants, or to the strong, mint-like flavor associated with it. 3. The red berry-like fruit: Refers specifically to the small, bright red fruit of the Gaultheria procumbens plant, which has a spicy taste.

Usage Examples

• As a plant:
  • We found patches of wintergreen growing under the pine trees.
  • The shiny leaves of the wintergreen plant are easy to identify.
• As a flavor or product:
  • This chewing gum has a strong wintergreen flavor.
  • The ointment contains wintergreen oil to soothe sore muscles.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In botanical terminology, "wintergreen" can refer specifically to plants in the genera (e.g., Eastern Teaberry) and (e.g., Shinleaf). The term highlights the plant's evergreen characteristic during the cold season.
• "Wintergreen oil": This is a fixed phrase for the volatile oil distilled from the leaves of , used in medicine and flavoring. It is chemically identical to methyl salicylate.

Variants and Related Words

• Checkerberry: A common name for , emphasizing its red, berry-like fruit.
• Teaberry: Another common name for the same plant, also referring to its edible fruit.
• Wintergreened (adj., rare): Flavored with wintergreen.
  • The candy was wintergreened.

Synonyms

• Teaberry (for the plant and its fruit)
• Checkerberry (for the plant and its fruit)
• Methyl salicylate (for the oil/flavor compound)

Related Phrases

• Oil of wintergreen: The standard term for the essential oil derived from the wintergreen plant.
  • The distinct smell of oil of wintergreen filled the room.

Noun

1. spicy red berrylike fruit; source of wintergreen oil
2. creeping shrub of eastern North America having white bell-shaped flowers followed by spicy red berrylike fruit and shiny aromatic leaves that yield wintergreen oil
3. any of several evergreen perennials of the genus Pyrola