ginger

USJIN-jur/ˈd͡ʒɪnd͡ʒɚ/UKJIN-juh/ˈdʒɪndʒə/

16 meanings of ginger

1
nouncountable or uncountable
A spicy root used in cooking and to calm the stomach, or the plant it grows from.
She grated fresh ginger into the soup.
A little ginger gives the cookies a warm, spicy taste.
UsageSay fresh ginger, or a piece of ginger for one bit.
Note
2
adjective
Orange-brown in color, especially used about hair or fur.
Their ginger cat hates the rain.
Her little brother is ginger, just like their dad.
Similarred, auburn, copper, russet
3
redheadnounderogatorycolloquialcountable
An informal, sometimes mean name for a person with red hair.
The new kid was the only ginger in his class.
Two gingers sat together at the back of the bus.
UsageIt can hurt. Say redhead instead.
Similarredhead
4
spicy sodanouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A fizzy soft drink flavored with ginger, or a can or bottle of it.
At the bar, she ordered a whiskey and ginger.
He asked the bartender for a rum and ginger.
UsageDry ginger is a kind of ginger ale.
5
related plantsnouncountable or uncountable
Any plant in the same family as the spice ginger, especially its close relatives.
Like cousins of a famous relative: different plants, but all part of one family.
This ginger has tall red flowers that last for weeks.
Many gingers have bright flowers and a strong smell.

Less common meanings

6
the colornouncountable or uncountable
A reddish-brown color, a mix of orange and brown.
She painted the bedroom a warm ginger.
The sky glowed a deep ginger at sunset.
Similarrusset, copper, rust
7
cautiousadjectivedialectalUKCanadaUS
Very careful or cautious, or gentle and easily hurt.
They, the Rabbis, for better or for worse, were very ginger with this question.
2006, John W. McGinley, About the King’s Choice to Build His Palace Right on Top of a Dunghill
After a very ginger landing, everyone aboard was able to see up close how lucky they had been to reach base.
2007, Flypast
UsageYou can be ginger with something: careful with it.
Similargingerly
Oppositecareless, reckless
Note
8
flavor foodverbtransitive
To flavor a food or drink by adding the spice ginger to it.
We had gingered carrots with dinner last night.
Mom likes to ginger the carrot soup so it has a warm bite.
Similarspice, season, flavor
9
verbidiomatictransitive
To make something more lively or exciting.
Like turning up the music to wake up a quiet party.
They added music to ginger up the party.
A little music can ginger up a slow party.
UsageSay ginger up something, or ginger it up.
Similarenliven, liven, energize, animate
Note
10
any sodanoundialectalScotlandcountable or uncountable
A fizzy soft drink, or a can or bottle of one.
Like the way some people say 'pop' and others say 'soda' for the same drink.
In Glasgow, any fizzy drink, even cola, can be called ginger.
My Scottish grandpa called every soda ginger, even orange soda.
Similarpop, soda
Note
11
step carefullyverbintransitive
To move in a very careful and cautious way.
Like walking on tiptoe so you do not wake someone.
Grandma gingered her way down the steep, wet steps.
We had to ginger our way over the slippery rocks.
UsageSay ginger your way along.
Similaredge, inch, tiptoe, creep
Note
12
horse trickverbtransitive
To put ginger into a horse's bottom so it lifts its tail and moves with more spirit.
Dishonest traders would ginger a sluggish horse before the sale.
He gingered the old mare to make her look lively.
Note
13
adverbdialectal
In a very careful, gentle, and cautious way.
14
nouncolloquial
Energy, spirit, and liveliness in a person's character.
The party managers demanded more “ginger.”
1919, John Maynard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace
15
nounslangUK
British slang for a gay man.
16
adjectiveslangUK
British slang meaning gay.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–10, 12

English 'ginger' comes through Middle English and Old English from Latin and Greek words for the spice, which go all the way back to an Old Tamil word meaning 'ginger root'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

English 'ginger' comes through Middle English and Old English. en.wiktionary.org
The word derives from Latin and Greek words for the spice. en.wiktionary.org
The ultimate source is an Old Tamil compound meaning 'ginger root'. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 7, 11

This 'ginger' was made from the adverb 'gingerly'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

This sense of 'ginger' was formed from the adverb 'gingerly'. en.wiktionary.org