ginkgo

Everyday

1. A tall tree with fan-shaped leaves that turn bright yellow in autumn; it is called a living fossil because trees like it grew in the time of the dinosaurs. tree →
2. A medicine or supplement made from its leaves (ginkgo biloba). tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons it is an example of a living fossil and an ancient plant. In everyday life you may see ginkgo trees in city streets and parks. Phrases: ginkgo leaf, ginkgo biloba, maidenhair tree (its other name).

Examples

• The ginkgo in the park turns golden yellow in autumn. tree →
• Ginkgo leaves look like little fans. tree →
• Ginkgo trees were around when dinosaurs lived. tree →
• Some ginkgo trees survived the bomb in Hiroshima. tree →
• Grandma takes ginkgo tablets, but you should only take medicine an adult gives you. tree →
• The seeds of a female ginkgo tree smell very bad. tree →

Note

Spelled ginkgo (g-i-n-k-g-o), though many people say and wrongly write gingko. Pronounced GINK-oh. Its seeds can be poisonous raw; do not eat them.