ginseng Meaning, Definition & Usage
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noun aromatic root of ginseng plants
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noun Chinese herb with palmately compound leaves and small greenish flowers and forked aromatic roots believed to have medicinal powers
nin-sin; Panax pseudoginseng; Panax schinseng; Panax ginseng.
WordNet
Gin"seng noun
Etymology
Chinese.Definitions
(Bot.) A plant of the genus Aralia , the root of which is highly valued as a medicine among the Chinese. The Chinese plant (Aralia Schinseng ) has become so rare that the American (A. quinquefolia ) has largely taken its place, and its root is now an article of export from America to China. The root, when dry, is of a yellowish white color, with a sweetness in the taste somewhat resembling that of licorice, combined with a slight aromatic bitterness.