the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
"The forecast predicts a classic winter, dropping temperatures below freezing and keeping us indoors until the spring thaw arrives after the solstice."
Traditionally the fourth of the four seasons, typically regarded as being from December 23 to March 20 in continental regions of the Northern Hemisphere or 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.
"After checking that our frost-free date finally falls past March 20, we packed away the heaters as winter officially ended."
In plain English: Winter is the coldest season of the year when days are short and it often snows.
"The winter snow covered the entire mountain range."
spend the winter
"We wintered on the Riviera"
"Shackleton's men overwintered on Elephant Island"
To spend the winter (in a particular place).
"After years of working remotely from home, she decided to spend the winter in sunny Florida."
In plain English: To winter means to spend the cold season somewhere, usually by moving there for warmth.
"The cold winds began to winter across the valley, bringing heavy snow and long nights."
the coldest season of the year
"We bundled up tightly because winter has finally arrived with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall."
In plain English: Winter as an adjective describes something that is cold, snowy, or related to the coldest season of the year.
"The winter coat was too heavy for the mild weather."
Usage: Use winter as an adjective to describe things that occur during or resemble the cold season, such as in "a winter coat." It is often confused with wintry when referring specifically to conditions like snow and ice rather than general seasonal attributes.
A surname, from Germanic languages​.
"The local history club is hosting a lecture next week on the Winter family's contribution to the community during the Great Depression."
The word "winter" comes from Old English and traces back to Proto-Germanic *wintruz. It has remained in use for centuries with the same meaning of the cold season between autumn and spring.