teff
Americannoun
-
a grass, Eragrostis tef, native to the Horn of Africa, where it is cultivated for its edible seeds.
-
the edible seeds of the grass Eragrostis tef.
-
Sometimes teff flour a flour made from the edible seeds of the grass Eragrostis tef, used especially in the cuisine of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Etymology
Origin of teff
First recorded in 1780–90; from Amharic t’ef; compare Geez t’ah’əf, t’ayəf
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.
As well as boosting her performances, Hennessy credits teff with being key to recovery.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
At an elevation of about 2500 meters on Ethiopia’s Amhara plain, villagers conduct an ancient ritual—harvesting delicate stalks of teff by hand.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 26, 2024
Only starters made using teff, amaranth and buckwheat were lacking the acetic acid bacteria.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2023
They were living in New York and had access to plenty of health food stores, farmers markets and ethnic stores where she easily could source things such as millet and sorghum flours, arrowroot and teff.
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2023
Sour bread, made from teff, barley, and wheat, is eaten with a stimulating pottage of onions, red pepper, and salt.
From The Highlands of Ethiopia by William Cornwallis Harris
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
