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ginseng

Syllabification: (gin·seng)

Pronunciation: /ˈjinseNG/

Definition of ginseng

noun

1a plant tuber credited with various tonic and medicinal properties, especially in East Asia.

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)