curcuma

[ kur-kyoo-muh ]

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.

curcuma

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of curcuma¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of curcuma¹

C17: from New Latin, from Arabic kurkum turmeric

Example Sentences

Other changes of vegetables from climate or other causes are remarked in the note on Curcuma in the same work.

From Project Gutenberg

When a ponçeau red is wanted, two ounces of pounded curcuma (turmeric) should be added.

From Project Gutenberg

An orange tinge is derived from the turmeric extracted from the short root stocks of a plant of the genus Curcuma.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Turmeric is a powder obtained from the ground-up tubers of Curcuma tinctoria, a plant found in India and other Eastern countries.

From Project Gutenberg