sesame

American  

[ses-uh-mee] / ˈsɛs ə mi /

noun

1. a tropical, herbaceous plant, Sesamum indicum, whose small oval seeds are edible and yield an oil.

2. the seeds themselves, used to add flavor to bread, crackers, etc.

3. open sesame.

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sesame British  

/ ˈsɛsəmɪ /

noun

1. a tropical herbaceous plant, Sesamum indicum, of the East Indies, cultivated, esp in India, for its small oval seeds: family Pedaliaceae

2. the seeds of this plant, used in flavouring bread and yielding an edible oil ( benne oil or gingili )

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Etymology

Origin of sesame

1400–50; < Greek sēsámē sesame plant ≪ Akkadian shamashshammū, derived from shaman shammī plant oil; replacing sesam, late Middle English sysane < Latin sēsamum < Greek sḗsamon sesame seed

Example Sentences

Acai bowls were recalled over possible plastic contamination, while sesame miso salad and hot honey mustard dressing were recalled over undeclared allergens.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

These are basically peanut-butter cookies to which she adds toasted sesame seeds and, instead of salt, red miso for both salinity and a touch of umami.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Or take a bright yuzu marmalade: pair it with black sesame seeds, flaked coconut, a drizzle of coconut cream, a swirl of tahini, and a scatter of lime zest.

From Salon • Nov. 13, 2025

Everything bagel seasoning on top makes the whole thing slightly addictive: a crunch of sesame, poppy and salt that hits first, then the creamy tang of goat cheese and the sweet-savory onion jam.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2025

Only later did domesticates derived from indigenous species of the Indian subcontinent, such as humped cattle and sesame, appear in Indus Valley farming communities.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond