■ noun
1》 a hot, fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a plant.
2》 a SE Asian plant, resembling bamboo in appearance, from which ~ is taken. [ Zingiber officinale .]
3》 a light reddish-yellow colour.
4》 spirit; mettle.
■ verb
1》 [usu. as adjective ~ed ] flavour with ~.
2》 ( ~ someone/thing up ) make someone or something more lively.
Derivatives
~y adjective
Origin
OE gingifer , conflated in ME with OFr. gingimbre , from med. L. gingiber , from Gk zingiberis , from Pali siṅgivera , of Dravidian origin.