I. ˈwintə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German wintar, Old Norse vetr, Gothic wintrus, and probably to Old English wæter water — more at water
1.
a. : the season between autumn and spring reckoned astronomically as extending from the December solstice to the March equinox
b. : the season comprising the months of December, January, and February
c. Britain : the season comprising the months of November, December, and January
d. : the colder half of the year — contrasted with summer
e. : the rainy season in the tropics
f. : the season reckoned astronomically in the southern hemisphere as extending from the June solstice to the September equinox
2. : year
happened many winters ago
especially : one of the years of one's life
a man of 70 winters
3. : a period felt to resemble winter especially in being marked by dreariness, lack of activity, adversity, or decay
4.
[ winter yellowlegs ]
chiefly New England : greater yellowlegs
II. verb
( wintered ; wintered ; wintering -ntəriŋ, -n.triŋ ; winters )
Etymology: Middle English wintren, from winter (I)
intransitive verb
1. : to pass the winter
winter in the city
bears wintering in a rocky den
2. : to feed or find food during the winter — used with on
small birds wintering on the seeds of weeds and grasses
transitive verb
1. : to keep, feed, or manage during the winter
winter young cattle on straw
2. : to affect like winter : give a wintery aspect to
3. : winterize