coriander

American  

[kawr-ee-an-der] / ˈkɔr iˌæn dər /

noun

1. Also called cilantro.  Also called Chinese parsley.  an herb, Coriandrum sativum, of the parsley family, native to Europe, having strong-scented leaves used in cooking and aromatic seeds used as a seasoning and in medicine.

2. the seeds of this plant.

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coriander British  

/ ˌkɒrɪˈændə /

noun

1. US and Canadian name: cilantro.  a European umbelliferous plant, Coriandrum sativum, widely cultivated for its aromatic seeds and leaves, used in flavouring food, etc

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Etymology

Origin of coriander

1350–1400; Middle English coriandre < Latin coriandrum < Greek koríandron, variant of koríannon

Explanation

Coriander is a plant that's used as flavoring in cooking. Both the leaves and seeds of coriander show up in Indian, Mexican, and Thai recipes, among others. The bright green leaves of coriander are also called "cilantro" in North America, and they're an ingredient in many regional dishes, often appearing as a garnish on both curries and guacamole. Coriander seeds are ground into a spice with a lemony, slightly spicy flavor that's found in many Indian dishes. Coriander has a Greek root, koriannon, which some botanists suspect is related to koris, "bedbug," because of the unripe plant's unpleasant smell.

Example Sentences

Sentencing of Hudson, of Coriander Close, Blackpool, and former assistant practitioner Wilmot, of Bowland Crescent, Blackpool, will take place on Thursday.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2023

Coriander seeds carry a bright and floral flavor with notes of citrus, curry, and pepper.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2023

"Coriander is now 17.8 yuan per half kilo, it really is more expensive than pork!" wrote one user in the eastern province of Anhui.

From Reuters • Oct. 27, 2021

Coriander seeds have a much more mellow flavor than the fresh leaves of the plant, a.k.a. cilantro.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2021

Coriander, kōr-i-an′dėr, n. an annual plant, the seeds of which when fresh have an offensive smell, used as a medicine, spice, &c.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various