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oregano

American  
[uh-reg-uh-noh, aw-reg‑] / əˈrɛg əˌnoʊ, ɔˈrɛg‑ /

noun

  1. an aromatic herb, Origanum vulgare, of the mint family, having leaves used as seasoning in cooking.


oregano British  
/ ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnəʊ /

noun

  1. a Mediterranean variety of wild marjoram ( Origanum vulgare ), with pungent leaves

  2. the dried powdered leaves of this plant, used to season food

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of oregano

First recorded in 1765–75; from Spanish orégano : “wild marjoram,” from Latin orīganum. See origan

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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.

Chickpeas tossed with olive oil, harissa, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, and an almost unreasonable amount of lemon zest.

From Salon

Her family’s version of gumbo starts with chicken thighs, which are seasoned with paprika, cayenne, oregano and salt.

From Salon

"We also identified other herbs, such as thyme and oregano, that may activate TRPA1. But rosemary stood out for its potency and safety," said Rapp Reyes, co-lead author of the study.

From Science Daily

In a matter of seconds, Woo is snuggled up to the laundry units, licking the parmesan and oregano off the bread.

From Literature

I added a little more butter, then, with a thrill of reckless curiosity, drizzled in maple syrup, white miso, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds and oregano, watching each addition dissolve and bloom.

From Salon