cumin
Americannoun
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cumins
plural
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a small plant, Cuminum cyminum, of the parsley family, bearing aromatic, seedlike fruit, used in cooking and medicine.
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the aromatic fruit or seeds of Cuminum cyminum.
noun
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an umbelliferous Mediterranean plant, Cuminum cyminum, with finely divided leaves and small white or pink flowers
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the aromatic seeds (collectively) of this plant, used as a condiment and a flavouring
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.
Whole Foods began selling Hot Girl Pickles in September 2025; they come in garlic cumin and honey harissa flavors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
He used to make spaghetti Bolognese with cumin and coriander in it, so Western and Italian cuisine with Indian influences is comforting to me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The earthy fragrance of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and cumin.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Then came the spices: oregano, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes and a spoonful of harissa for smoky heat.
From Salon ● May 12, 2026
Calista threw away a coupon for a free Big Mac. cumin.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
