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

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

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