mint
Pluralmints
Pluralmints
- 1A leafy garden plant with a strong, fresh smell, used to flavor food and drinks.
Like other garden plants you can grow and use in cooking.
We grow mint in a pot so it doesn't spread all over the garden.
Fresh mint smells wonderful when you rub the leaves between your fingers.
UsageSay some mint for the herb.
Similarmentha
- 2The fresh, cool taste taken from the mint plant, used in candies, jellies, and sauces.
The chocolate had a cool taste of mint inside.
My favorite ice cream flavor has always been mint.
- 3A small, sweet candy with a cool, fresh taste, often eaten to make the breath smell nice.
Like a small sweet that cools your mouth and makes your breath nice.
She offered me a mint after dinner to freshen my breath.
He popped a couple of mints before the meeting.
UsageSay a mint for one sweet.
- 4
- 5A place where a government makes coins and other money.
Like a factory, but it makes money instead of cars.
The mint makes all the coins used in the country.
We visited a mint and watched coins being stamped from metal.
Note
- 6To make up something new, such as a word, phrase, or idea.
Like stamping out a brand-new coin that nobody has seen before.
Writers often mint new words for new inventions.
She minted a catchy slogan for the campaign.
UsageSay newly minted for just made: a newly minted doctor.
Similarcoin, invent, create, devise
Note
- 7In perfect condition, like new, as if nobody had ever used or handled it.
Like a new toy still sealed in its box.
This coin looks mint, with no scratches at all.
My dad keeps his old toy cars mint, still in their boxes.
UsageSay something is in mint condition.
Similarpristine, perfect, immaculate, unused, new
Note
- 8Having a soft, pale green color, like mint leaves.
Like the soft green of fresh spring leaves.
She painted her bedroom a soft mint shade.
The walls were mint, which made the room feel calm.
UsageSay mint green.
- 9
- 10A soft, pale green, like the color of mint leaves.
Like the light green you see in new leaves.
The kitchen was painted in a gentle mint.
She loves mint for summer clothes.
Less common meanings
- 11
- 12A place or thing that gives a huge, never-ending supply of something.
A mint of phrases in his brain.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”Here, mint means a huge supply, so his brain is full of phrases.Similargoldmine, wealth, fount, treasury, storehouse
Note
- 13
- 14To try to do something hard, or to aim a hit at a person or thing.
- 15A plan, purpose, or attempt to do something.
- 16To hint at something instead of saying it directly.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Old English mynet meaning "coin," which came from Latin monēta, from Monēta, a title of Juno, in whose temple coins were made.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Mint descends from Old English mynet, ultimately from Latin monēta. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English mynet meant coin. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin monēta derives from Monēta. en.wiktionary.org
- Monēta was a title of Juno. en.wikipedia.org
- Coins were made in Juno Moneta's temple. en.wikipedia.org
From Old English minte, the name of the mint plant, which came from Latin menta.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The plant name mint derives from Old English minte, which named the mint plant. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English minte ultimately came from Latin menta. en.wiktionary.org