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turmeric

[ tur-mer-ik ]
/ ˈtɜr mər ɪk /

noun

the aromatic rhizome of an Asian plant, Curcuma domestica (or C. longa), of the ginger family.
a powder prepared from it, used as a condiment, as in curry powder, or as a yellow dye, a medicine, etc.
the plant itself.
any of various similar substances or plants.

QUIZZES

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Question 1 of 9
You may have read the word "simmer" in a recipe or two, but what does it really mean?
To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil.
To stew in a sauce for a long time.
To cook in water, just below boiling temperature.
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Origin of turmeric

1530–40; earlier tarmaret<Medieval Latin terra merita merited earth, unexplained name for curcuma

Words nearby turmeric

Turk's-head cactus, Turku, turle knot, Turlock, turlough, turmeric, turmeric paper, turmoil, turn, turn a blind eye to, turnabout
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for turmeric

British Dictionary definitions for turmeric

turmeric
/ (ˈtɜːmərɪk) /

noun

a tropical Asian zingiberaceous plant, Curcuma longa, having yellow flowers and an aromatic underground stem
the powdered stem of this plant, used as a condiment and as a yellow dye
any of several other plants with similar roots

Word Origin for turmeric

C16: from Old French terre merite, from Medieval Latin terra merita, literally: meritorious earth, name applied for obscure reasons to curcuma
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