fenugreek

American  

[fen-yoo-greek, fen-oo-] / ˈfɛn yʊˌgrik, ˈfɛn ʊ- /

noun

1. a plant, Trigonella foenum-graecum, of the legume family, indigenous to western Asia, but extensively cultivated elsewhere, chiefly for forage and for its mucilaginous seeds, which are used in medicine.

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fenugreek British  

/ ˈfɛnjʊˌɡriːk /

noun

1. an annual heavily scented Mediterranean leguminous plant, Trigonella foenum-graecum , with hairy stems and white flowers: cultivated for forage and for its medicinal seeds

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Etymology

Origin of fenugreek

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fenugrek, Old English fēnogrēcum, from Latin fēnum Graecum literally, “Greek hay”; see fennel

Example Sentences

Fenugreek seeds, which taste a bit like burnt sugar, are sometimes used as a spice in cooking.

From Washington Post • Jul. 22, 2011

Methi, or Fenugreek, grows at all seasons, except from the 15th of November to the 12th of January. 

From An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of Gorkha by Hamilton, Francis

Take of Marsh-Mallow-Roots peel'd, three Drams; the Seeds of Line and Fenugreek, of each four Ounces; three Quarts of Spring-Water; two Quarts of common Oil, and two Pounds of Litharge of Gold.

From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Le Clerc, Charles Gabriel

Fenugreek has been recommended to be as a nitrogen-gathering plant, but I cannot find information as to the amount of nitrogen it gathers in its roots and tops, nor the amount of crop per acre.

From One Thousand Questions in California Agriculture Answered by Wickson, Edward J. (Edward James)

Fenugreek, fen′ū-grēk, n. a genus of leguminous plants, allied to clover and melilot.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various