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

“The idea is to take inspiration from where you would use things like fennel seeds, sesame seeds, or poppy seeds,” Ziata explained.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Officials worked late nights on their Golden Plan, fueled by snacks of sesame bread and mango.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

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

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

I told him yes anyway, I really wanted to make it, so we drove all the way to the Asian supermarket to get adzuki beans and sesame oil.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller