mint

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈmint 

1

: any of a family (Lamiaceae synonym Labiatae, the mint family) of aromatic plants with a square stem and a 4-lobed ovary which produces four one-seeded nutlets in fruit

especially : any of a genus (Mentha) of mints that have white, purple, or pink verticillate flowers with a nearly regular corolla and four equal stamens and that include some used in flavoring and cookery

2

: a confection flavored with mint

minty

ˈmin-tē 

adjective

mint

2 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a place where coins, medals, or tokens are made

2

: a place where something is manufactured

3

: a vast sum or amount

worth a mint

mint

3 of 4

verb

minted; minting; mints

transitive verb

1

: to make (coins or money) out of metal : coin

2

: create, produce

3

: to cause to attain an indicated status

newly minted doctors

minter noun

mint

4 of 4

adjective

: unmarred as if fresh from a mint

in mint condition

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• big bucks
• bomb [British]
• boodle
• bundle
• earth
• fortune
• king's ransom
• megabucks
• packet [chiefly British]
• pile
• wad

Adjective

• brand-new
• fresh
• pristine
• span-new
• virgin
• virginal

Examples of mint in a Sentence

Noun (2)

she made a mint when the real estate market was hot

Verb

coins that were minted before 1965

We mint coins out of copper.

Adjective

a mint baseball card that should be worth a lot to a collector

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It could also be garnished with a dusting of confectioners' sugar, sprinkling of toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds, or a few leaves of fresh mint or thyme for a pop of color. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 June 2024

Serve the chicken with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, mint leaves, pita bread and the tzatziki sauce. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 27 May 2024

Garnish with additional slices of cucumber, orange and strawberries and sprigs of mint. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2024

Now, my take is a lump of sugar, a tablespoon of water which is reduced to a simple syrup and muddled with no less than four mint leaves. —Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English minte, from Old English, from Latin mentha, menta; akin to Greek minthē mint

Noun (2)

Middle English mynt coin, money, from Old English mynet, from Latin moneta mint, coin, from Moneta, epithet of Juno; from the fact that the Romans coined money in the temple of Juno Moneta

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1902, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mint

• mint condition
• mint julep

Kids Definition

mint

1 of 3 noun

ˈmint 

1

: any of a family of herbs and shrubs (as basil or catnip) with square stems and opposite leaves

especially : one (as peppermint or spearmint) that is fragrant and is the source of a flavoring oil

2

: a mint-flavored piece of candy

mint

2 of 3 noun

1

: a place where coins, medals, and tokens are made

2

: a great amount

worth a mint

mint

3 of 3 verb

: to make (as coins) out of metal

minter noun

Etymology

Noun

Old English minte "the herb mint," from Latin mentha, menta "mint"

Noun

Middle English mynt "coin, money," from Old English mynet (same meaning), from Latin moneta "coin, place where coins are made," from Moneta "a special name for the goddess Juno"; so called because the ancient Romans made coins at the temple of Juno Moneta — related to money see Word History at money

Medical Definition

mint

noun

ˈmint 

: any of a family (Labiatae, the mint family) of aromatic plants with a square stem and a four-lobed ovary which produces four one-seeded nutlets in fruit

especially : any of the genus Mentha