turmeric

noun
tur·​mer·​ic | \ ˈtər-mə-rik How to pronounce turmeric (audio) also ˈtü-mə- or ˈtyü-\

Definition of turmeric

1 : an Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa synonym C. domestica) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome
2 : the boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used as a coloring agent, a flavoring, or a stimulant
3 : a yellow to reddish-brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric

Examples of turmeric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That means sausages in a tomato sauce packed with ginger, turmeric and red chile, and creamy gratins made with the local vegetable chou chou (a.k.a. Khushbu Shah, Washington Post, "The islands of the Indian Ocean aren’t known for their food. A new cookbook aims to change that.," 26 Aug. 2019 The company is launching with a light and dark gray made with pomegranate, eucalyptus, and tea, and a blush made with turmeric, gardenia, and walnut. Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Sick of white sheets? Buffy now offers eco-friendly colored bedding," 19 Aug. 2019 Add the turmeric, cumin, black pepper and Aleppo pepper to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, until the spices just start to release their aroma. Nik Sharma, SFChronicle.com, "Brown Kitchen: Clams in Curry Leaf Tomato Broth," 19 July 2019 In a small bowl, stir together ¼ cup oil, cumin seeds, tomato paste, Tabasco, ground turmeric, cumin and coriander. Melissa Clark, The Seattle Times, "How to make sheet-pan suppers without the meat," 1 Oct. 2018 Savor the bold-flavored dishes while sipping a Trust No Auntie ($14) made with Pisco, beet and turmeric. Jessica Yadegaran, The Mercury News, "Insider’s guide: Where to eat, drink and play in SF’s Dogpatch this summer," 20 July 2019 Boneless, skinless breasts are generously seasoned with a blend of ginger, cumin, garlic, paprika and turmeric then seared in a hot pan. NBC News, "9 foolproof and delicious recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts," 30 June 2019 Ginger and Turmeric Vividly colored, purple, gold and orange baby summer carrots are delicious flavored with peppery cardamom and the warm flavors of ginger and fresh turmeric. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Quick pickling gives fresh veggies and fruit a tangy crunch in a day or less," 16 July 2019 In a small bowl, stir together the oil, garlic, ginger, turmeric, chile, and salt into a paste. CBS News, "The Dish: Chef Priya Krishna reveals her signature recipes," 15 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turmeric.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of turmeric

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for turmeric

Middle English turmeryte

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More Definitions for turmeric

turmeric

noun
tur·​mer·​ic | \ ˈtər-mə-rik How to pronounce turmeric (audio) \
variants: also tumeric \ ˈt(y)ü-​mə-​ How to pronounce tumeric (audio) \

Medical Definition of turmeric

1 : an Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome
2 : the cleaned, boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used in dietary supplements and herbal remedies and as a spice — see curcumin
3 : a yellow to reddish brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric