hummus
Americannoun
noun
Commonly Confused
See humus
Etymology
Origin of hummus
First recorded in 1950–55; from Turkish humus “mashed chickpeas,” or from Arabic ḥummuṣ, ḥəmmoṣ “chickpeas”
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Explanation
Hummus is a Middle Eastern food made of mashed chickpeas. If you want a delicious and healthy lunch, try hummus stuffed in a whole wheat pita with tomatoes, cucumber, and grilled eggplant. There are many varieties of hummus, but the classic recipe includes sesame paste (also called tahini), chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Hummus is sometimes served as a dip with pita or as a spread inside a sandwich. While it originated in the Middle East, hummus is common all over the world today. Its full Arabic name is ḥummuṣ bi ṭaḥīna, or "chickpeas with tahini."
Vocabulary lists containing hummus
English Food and Drink Words Derived from Arabic
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World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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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.
The pesto was mistakenly packaged into tubs marked "Hummus Dip," which do not contain an allergen declaration of milk or walnuts, per a company announcement.
From Salon • Sep. 7, 2023
Hummus maker Sabra Dipping Company is keeping ample supplies on hand "to safeguard against the unexpected," Chief Executive Joey Bergstein told Reuters.
From Reuters • Jul. 6, 2022
Hummus is soured with both lemon juice and sumac, then finished with sesame seeds.
From New York Times • Dec. 14, 2021
The Hummus Café in Greenwood recently launched a new Egyptian and Mediterranean brunch concept called Afrangie, but then shut it down after Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest indoor dining ban.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 23, 2021
Hummus stained with black garlic and sprinkled with sesame seeds and fried dried garlic, and raw Wagyu beef served with beet chimichurri, reflect the new direction, too.
From Washington Post • Oct. 17, 2019
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.
