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cumin

American  
[kuhm-uhn, koom-, koo-muhn, kyoo-] / ˈkʌm ən, ˈkʊm-, ˈku mən, ˈkju- /

noun

cumins plural
  1. a small plant, Cuminum cyminum, of the parsley family, bearing aromatic, seedlike fruit, used in cooking and medicine.

  2. the aromatic fruit or seeds of Cuminum cyminum.


cumin British  
/ ˈkʌmɪn /

noun

  1. an umbelliferous Mediterranean plant, Cuminum cyminum, with finely divided leaves and small white or pink flowers

  2. the aromatic seeds (collectively) of this plant, used as a condiment and a flavouring

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of cumin

First recorded before 900; Middle English comyn, cumin (from Old French comin ) from Latin cumīnum, from Greek kýmīnon, from Semitic (compare Arabic kammūn, Hebrew kammōn cumin); replacing Old English cymen from Latin, as above

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Vocabulary lists containing cumin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cumin, coriander and ginger are among some of my favorite because they are healthy and flavorful.

From Salon • Aug. 29, 2024

Cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cinnamon pack the punchiest of flavors into this lentil and cauliflower soup.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2021

Cumin and cracked coriander make up the crust on the crunchy, twice-marinated bhatti da murgh.

From New York Times • Dec. 11, 2018

Cumin vinaigrette made kale salad exciting, but the pickled jicama, pepitas and orange segments could have played a larger role.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2017

“Hmmm, a thoughtful girl. Cumin is what I advise. Rare and odorous. Not in your queen’s herb bed, I am sure. A poultice applied to the side. I will prepare it now.”

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

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