Ju"ni*per (?), n. [L. juniperus, prop., youth-producing, and so called from its evergreen appearance, from the roots of E. juvenile, and parent. Cf. Gin the liquor.] (Bot.) Any evergreen shrub or tree, of the genus Juniperus and order Coniferæ.

&fist; The common juniper (J. communis) is a shrub of a low, spreading form, having awl-shaped, rigid leaves in whorls of threes, and bearing small purplish blue berries (or galbuli), of a warm, pungent taste, used as diuretic and in flavoring gin. A resin exudes from the bark, which has erroneously been considered identical with sandarach, and is used as pounce. The oil of juniper is acrid, and used for various purposes, as in medicine, for making varnish, etc. The wood of several species is of a reddish color, hard and durable, and is used in cabinetwork under the names of red cedar, Bermuda cedar, etc.

• any shrub or tree of the genus Juniperus of the cypress family; characterized by pointed, needle-like leaves and aeromatic berry-like cones
  
• certain coniferous trees which resemble junipers