win|ter

win|ter «WIHN tuhr», noun, adjective, verb.

–n.

1. the coldest of the four seasons; time of the year between fall and spring. In northern latitudes winter is reckoned astronomically as beginning about December 22 (the winter solstice) and ending about March 21 (the vernal equinox), and popularly as comprising the months of December, January, and February or (in British use) November, December, and January. In southern latitudes winter corresponds in calendar time to the northern summer. »

His uncle and he would go toiling up the mountain side…smashing their way through the dry and brittle undergrowth of barren Winter (Thomas Wolfe).

2. a year of life: »

a man of eighty winters.

3. Figurative. a) t last period of life: »

Father Mapple was in the hardy winter of a healthy old age (Herman Melville).

b) a period of decline, dreariness, or adversity: »

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair (Dickens).

–adj.

1. of, having to do with, or characteristic of winter: »

winter weather, winter winds. The winter moon, brightening the skirts of a long cloud (Tennyson).

2. for the winter: »

winter clothes, winter sports.

3. of the kind that may be kept for use during the winter: »

winter apples.

4. sown in the fall and harvested in the spring: »

winter crops.

–v.i.

to pass or spend the winter: »

Robins winter in the south.

–v.t.

to keep, feed, or manage during winter: »

We wintered our cattle in the warm valley.

╂[Old English winter]

–win´ter|er, noun.