winter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
    wintertime.
  2. verb spend the winter
    overwinter.
    • We wintered on the Riviera
    • Shackleton's men overwintered on Elephant Island

WordNet

Win"ter noun
Etymology
AS. winter; akin to OFries. & D. winter, OS. & OHG. wintar, G. winter, D. & Sw. vinter, Icel. vetr, Goth. wintrus; of uncertain origin; cf. Old Gallic vindo- white (in comp.), OIr. find white. .
Definitions
  1. The season of the year in which the sun shines most obliquely upon any region; the coldest season of the year. "Of thirty winter he was old." Chaucer.
    And after summer evermore succeeds Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold. Shak.
    Winter lingering chills the lap of May. Goldsmith.
    ✍ North of the equator, winter is popularly taken to include the months of December, January, and February (see Season). Astronomically, it may be considered to begin with the winter solstice, about December 21st, and to end with the vernal equinox, about March 21st.
  2. The period of decay, old age, death, or the like.
    Life's autumn past, I stand on winter's verge. Wordsworth.
Win"ter intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Wintered ; present participle & verbal noun Wintering
Definitions
  1. To pass the winter; to hibernate; as, to winter in Florida.
    Because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence. Acts xxvii. 12.
Win"ter intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To keep, feed or manage, during the winter; as, to winter young cattle on straw.

Webster 1913