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ginseng

Pronunciation: /ˈdʒɪnsɛŋ/

Definition of ginseng

noun

1 [mass noun] a plant tuber credited with various tonic and medicinal properties.

2the plant from which ginseng is obtained, native to eastern Asia and North America.
- Genus Panax, family Araliaceae: several species, in particular the Asian P. pseudoginseng and the North American P. quinquefolius

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Chinese rénshēn, from rén 'man' + shēn, a kind of herb (because of the supposed resemblance of the forked root to a person)