winterberry

noun

win·​ter·​ber·​ry ˈwin-tər-ˌber-ē How to pronounce winterberry (audio)
1
: an eastern North American shrub (Ilex verticillata) of the holly family with axillary flowers, usually bright red berries, and deciduous leaves that turn black in the fall

called also black alder

2
: any of several congeneric shrubs or small trees (such as Ilex laevigata of the eastern U.S.)

Examples of winterberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The simple, iridescent jar blends seamlessly into anyone’s home while notes of evergreen, crisp apple and winterberry gently fill the space. People Staff, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 The winterberry holly is a bit slower. Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2020 Other cool-weather shrubs to consider for the region include witch hazel, winter jasmine, viburnum and winterberry. oregonlive, 27 Aug. 2021 Volunteers planted a winterberry holly tree last month at Mass Audubon’s Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, the last of nearly 600 plantings in a four-year transformation that returns a longtime Plymouth cranberry farm back to its natural state. BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021 Channel winter’s most universal plant, the winterberry, with pops of red jacquard tablecloths and marbleized coasters atop your dining tables. Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2020 Consulting ecologist and president of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, Neil Diboll mentioned native winterberry (Ilex verticillata) as a good choice for winterscaping. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Oct. 2020 Some of us appreciate Wisconsin’s stark winter landscapes and visit botanical gardens to stroll their paths and appreciate the ruddy auburn limbs of dogwood trees or the bright, red fruits on winterberry holly bushes. Brian E. Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2019 The native winterberry, which grows in moist, acid soil at the edge of bogs, is a large shrub, but cultivars are widely available in a range of sizes. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 7 Dec. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of winterberry was in 1752

Dictionary Entries Near winterberry

Cite this Entry

“Winterberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winterberry. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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