/ ˈdʒɪndʒə(r); NAmE / noun , adjective , verb
■ noun [ U ]
1.
the root of the ginger plant used in cooking as a spice :
a teaspoon of ground ginger
( BrE )
ginger biscuits
2.
a light brownish-orange colour
■ adjective
( BrE ) light brownish-orange in colour :
ginger hair
a ginger cat
■ verb
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PHRASAL VERBS
- ginger sth/sb up
SYN liven up
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WORD ORIGIN
late Old English gingifer , conflated in Middle English with Old French gingimbre , from medieval Latin gingiber , from Greek zingiberis , from Pali (an ancient Indian language) siṅgivera , of Dravidian origin.