What does juniper mean?
Juniper is the common name for an evergreen tree or shrub whose aromatic, berry-like seed cones are used as a spice and in the production of gin. The plants belong to the cypress family and may have needle-like or scale-like foliage; their berries are not true berries but fleshy cones. In cooking, “juniper” usually denotes the dried or crushed cones, which contribute a distinctive resinous, piney flavor to sauces, stuffings, and game dishes. Juniper also has a strong association with gin, whose name ultimately comes from this plant. The word is useful for describing both the trees themselves and the familiar culinary ingredient, though the intended referent can depend on context.
nounAn evergreen tree or shrub of the cypress family, bearing aromatic, berry-like seed cones. The word can also refer to these cones, especially when used as a flavoring or in the production of gin.
- An evergreen tree or shrub of the cypress family, often with needle-like or scale-like leaves.
- The aromatic, berry-like seed cone of a juniper, used as a flavoring and in making gin.
"Juniper berries lend piney notes to gin and often season roasted game and vegetables."
"A row of junipers formed a dense screen around the garden."
"The chef rubbed the roasted lamb with crushed juniper berries."
The plural can refer to multiple juniper plants or to several juniper seed cones.
"The cliff was covered with junipers twisted by the coastal wind."
Juniper gave gin its name: the spirit takes its defining flavor from the aromatic berries of this evergreen.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does juniper come from?
The English word descends from Latin iūniperus, the classical name for the juniper tree and related plants. It was borrowed into English through Old French and later forms such as Middle English juniper. The Latin name also underlies the names of gin in several European languages, including Dutch jenever and French genièvre, as well as related forms such as Spanish enebro and Italian ginepro.
Related word forms
How juniper is actually used
In culinary contexts, “juniper” usually refers to the dried or ground berries rather than to the plant. Outside Britain and North America, juniper may refer to closely related species cultivated under the same common name.
Easily confused with juniper
Juniper is the common English name, while Juniperus is the scientific botanical genus containing many species of juniper.