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winter definition

win·ter (win′tər)

noun

    1. the coldest season of the year: in the North Temperate Zone, generally regarded as including the months of December, January, and February: in the astronomical year, that period between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox
    2. the typically cold weather of this season
  2. a year as reckoned by this season a man of eighty winters
  3. any period of decline, dreariness, adversity, etc.

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to ON vetr, Goth wintrus, prob. < IE *wed-, to make wet: see water

adjective

  1. of or characteristic of winter
  2. designed for or taking place during winter winter sports
  3. that will keep during the winter winter apples
  4. planted in the fall to be harvested in the spring winter wheat

intransitive verb

  1. to pass the winter
  2. to be supplied with food and shelter in the winter

transitive verb

to keep, feed, or maintain during the winter

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

winter Synonyms

winter

n.

cold season, frosty weather, wintertime, Christmastime, Jack Frost*, King Winter*, squaw winter*, blackberry winter*.


winter

v.

stay for the winter, go for the winter, vacation, spend the winter, hole up*; see also dwell, live 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

winter Usage Examples

Object

  • wildfowl: It is excellent for gulls and wintering wildfowl and can be very good for passage waders if the water levels are suitable.

Converse of object

  • survive: You should plant outside any adult plant that has even a remote chance of surviving winter.

Adjective modifier

  • mild: This is a semi evergreen - will come through a mild winter without too much trouble.

Modifies a noun

  • solstice: Some tomb passages were aligned so that the rising sun of the winter solstice would shine down them.

Preposition: in

  • hemisphere: In the winter in the northern hemisphere the sun rises in the southeast and stays low in the sky, setting in the southwest.

Preposition: of

  • discontent: The national winter of discontent had repercussions in school.
winter usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

winter quotes

I have often thought, says Sir Roger, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the Middle of Winter.

-Addison,Joseph

It was no summer progress. A cold coming they had of it, at this time of the year; just, the worst time of the year, to take a journey, and specially a long journey, in. The ways deep, the weather sharp, the days short, the sun farthest off in solstitio brumali, the very dead of winter. See Eliot 306:73.

-Andrewes, Lancelot

And nowe in the winter, when men kill the fat swine They get the bladder and blow it great and thin, With many beans and peason put within: It ratleth, soundeth, and shineth clere and fayre While it is throwen and caste up in the ayre, Each one contendeth and hath a great delite With foote and with hands the bladder for to smite; If it fall to grounde, they lifte it up agayne, But this waye to labour they count in no payne.

-Anonymous

winter quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"winter." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/winter>

APA Style

winter. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/winter

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