winter

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win·ter / ˈwintər/ • n. the coldest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from December to February and in the southern hemisphere from June to August: the tree has a good crop of berries in winter| [as adj.] the winter months. ∎  Astron. the period from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox. ∎  (winters) poetic/lit. years: he seemed a hundred winters old.• adj. (of fruit and vegetables) ripening late in the growing season and suitable for storage over the winter: a winter apple. ∎  (of wheat or other crops) sown in autumn for harvesting the following year.• v. [intr.] (esp. of a bird) spend the winter in a particular place: birds wintering in the Channel. ∎  [tr.] keep or feed (plants or cattle) during winter.DERIVATIVES: win·ter·er n.win·ter·less adj.win·ter·ly adj.

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