cumin
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cu·min
(kyo͞o′mĭn, ko͞o′-, kŭm′ĭn)n.
1.
a. An annual Mediterranean herb (Cuminum cyminum) in the parsley family, having finely divided leaves and clusters of small white or pink flowers.
b. The seedlike fruit of this plant used whole or ground for seasoning, as in curry and chili powders.
2. Black cumin.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin cumīnum, from Greek kumīnon, probably of Semitic origin; see kmn in Semitic roots.]
Usage Note: Historically, cumin was pronounced (kŭm′ĭn), where the first syllable is like the word come. However, in our 2012 survey, only 15 percent of the Usage Panel found this pronunciation acceptable and less than 2 percent remarked that it was their preferred pronunciation, suggesting that the traditional form is being supplanted by (kyo͞o′mĭn) and (ko͞o′mĭn), where the first syllable is like the word cue or coo.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
cumin
(ˈkʌmɪn) orcummin
n
1. (Plants) an umbelliferous Mediterranean plant, Cuminum cyminum, with finely divided leaves and small white or pink flowers
2. (Cookery) the aromatic seeds (collectively) of this plant, used as a condiment and a flavouring
[C12: from Old French, from Latin cumīnum, from Greek kuminon, of Semitic origin; compare Hebrew kammōn]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
cum•in
(ˈkʌm ən, ˈkʊm- or, often, ˈku mən, ˈkyu-)n.
1. a small plant, Cuminum cyminum, of the parsley family, bearing aromatic, seedlike fruit used as a spice in cooking.
2. the fruit or seeds of this plant.
[before 900; Middle English (< Old French comin); Old English cymen < Latin cumīnum < Greek kýmīnon < Semitic (compare Arabic kammūn, Hebrew kammōn cumin)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | ![]() cumin seed, cumin - aromatic seeds of the cumin herb of the carrot family herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests Cuminum, genus Cuminum - cumin |
2. | cumin - aromatic seeds of the cumin herb of the carrot family edible seed - many are used as seasoning kummel - liqueur flavored with caraway seed or cumin cumin, Cuminum cyminum - dwarf Mediterranean annual long cultivated for its aromatic seeds |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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