— winterer , n. — winterish , adj. — winterishly , adv. — winterless , adj.
/win"teuhr/ , n.
1. the cold season between autumn and spring in northern latitudes (in the Northern Hemisphere from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox; in the Southern Hemisphere from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox).
2. the months of December, January, and February in the U.S., and of November, December, and January in Great Britain.
3. cold weather: a touch of winter in northern Florida.
4. the colder half of the year (opposed to summer ).
5. a whole year as represented by this season: a man of sixty winters.
6. a period like winter, as the last or final period of life; a period of decline, decay, inertia, dreariness, or adversity.
adj.
7. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of winter: a winter sunset.
8. (of fruit and vegetables) of a kind that may be kept for use during the winter.
9. planted in the autumn to be harvested in the spring or early summer: winter rye.
v.i.
10. to spend or pass the winter: to winter in Italy.
11. to keep, feed, or manage during the winter, as plants or cattle: plants wintering indoors.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME, OE; c. G Winter, ON vetr, Goth wintrus; (v.) ME, deriv. of the n.; akin to WET, WATER ]