curcuma

American  

[kur-kyoo-muh] / ˈkɜr kyʊ mə /

noun

1. any of various chiefly Old World plants belonging to the genus Curcuma, of the ginger family, as C. domestica, yielding turmeric, or C. zedoaria, yielding zedoary.

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curcuma British  

/ ˈkɜːkjʊmə /

noun

1. any tropical Asian tuberous plant of the genus Curcuma, such as C. longa, which is the source of turmeric, and C. zedoaria, which is the source of zedoary: family Zingiberaceae

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Etymology

Origin of curcuma

1610–20; < New Latin < Arabic kurkum saffron, turmeric; crocus

Example Sentences

An alcohol solution turns curcuma test paper brown.

From A System of Instruction in the Practical Use of the Blowpipe Being A Graduated Course Of Analysis For The Use Of Students And All Those Engaged In The Examination Of Metallic Combinations by Anonymous

Turmeric is the root portion of a plant called curcuma tinctoria, that grows in Southern Asia.

From The Chemistry of Hat Manufacturing Lectures Delivered Before the Hat Manufacturers' Association by Shonk, Albert