Definition of ginkgo in US English:

nounPlural ginkgoes, Plural ginkgos

• A deciduous Chinese tree related to the conifers, with fan-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. It has a number of primitive features and is similar to some Jurassic fossils.

  Ginkgo biloba, the only living member of the family Ginkgoaceae and order Ginkgoales, class Coniferopsida

  Also called maidenhair tree

  Example sentences

  • ‘Plant life consisted mainly of ferns and seed-ferns, with new plants like conifers and ginkgos coming into prominence.’
  • ‘The scientists analysed fossils of gingkoes and ferns that were growing at the time to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide that was in the air.’
  • ‘Many of the plants are endangered species, including the dove tree and the ginkgo.’
  • ‘On land, the vegetation generally consisted of conifers, cycads, ginkgos, ferns and horsetails.’
  • ‘Investigators have suggested that these fossils represent new growth from cycads, deciduous trees, ginkgos and, most commonly, conifer trees.’