Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Ginseng \Gin"seng\, n. [Chinese.] (Bot.)
   A plant of the genus {Aralia}, the root of which is highly
   valued as a medicine among the Chinese. The Chinese plant
   ({Aralia Schinseng}) has become so rare that the American
   ({A. quinquefolia}) has largely taken its place, and its root
   is now an article of export from America to China. The root,
   when dry, is of a yellowish white color, with a sweetness in
   the taste somewhat resembling that of licorice, combined with
   a slight aromatic bitterness.

Source : WordNet®

ginseng
     n 1: aromatic root of ginseng plants
     2: Chinese herb with palmately compound leaves and small
        greenish flowers and forked aromatic roots believed to
        have medicinal powers [syn: {nin-sin}, {Panax ginseng}, {Panax
        schinseng}, {Panax pseudoginseng}]