winter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the coldest season of the year

   in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

2. 2
   verb

   spend the winter

   We wintered on the Riviera

3. 3
   noun

   Traditionally the fourth of the four seasons, typically regarded as spanning either the period between the winter solstice to the spring equinox, or the months of December, January, and February in temperate and polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere and the months of June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the time when the sun is lowest in the sky, resulting in short days, and the time of year with the lowest atmospheric temperatures for the region.

   Ne take noon hede to brynge togidere þe parties of þe boon þat is to-broken or dislocate, til viij. daies ben goon in þe wyntir, & v. in þe somer; for þanne it schal make quytture, and be sikir from swellynge; & þanne brynge togidere þe brynkis eiþer þe disiuncture after þe techynge þat schal be seid in þe chapitle of algebra.

4. 4
   noun

   The period of decay, old age, death, or the like.

   Life's autumn past, I stand on winter's verge.

5. 5
   noun

   The rainy season.

   Note that the Citie of Goa is the principall place of all the Oriental India, and the winter thus beginneth the 15 of May, with very great raine.

6. 6
   verb

   To spend the winter (in a particular place).

   When they retired, they hoped to winter in Florida.

7. 7
   noun

   Someone with dark skin, eyes and hair, seen as best suited to certain colors of clothing.

8. 8
   noun

   An appliance to be fixed on the front of a grate, to keep a kettle warm, etc.

Etymology

From Middle English winter, from Old English winter, from Proto-West Germanic *wintru, from Proto-Germanic *wintruz (“winter”). Cognate with West Frisian winter (“winter”), Dutch winter (“winter”), German Winter (“winter”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian vinter (“winter”), Icelandic vetur (“winter”).