turmeric

English
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Processed turmeric rhizomes

Etymology

From Middle English turmeryte, tarmaret, of uncertain origin. Possibly corrupted from Arabic كُرْكُم‎ (kurkum, “Curcuma”). Others have theorized it might come from Old French terre mérite (“deserving earth”).

Pronunciation
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈtɜɹ.məɹ.ɪk/, [ˈtʰɝ.mɚ.ɪk], (nonstandard, sometimes proscribed) /ˈtuː.mə.ɹɪk/, [ˈtʰu.mɚ.ɪk]
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈtɜː.m(ə).ɹɪk/, (nonstandard, sometimes proscribed) /ˈtjuː.m(ə).ɹɪk/, /ˈtʃuː.m(ə).ɹɪk/
  • Audio (RP)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)məɹɪk, -uːməɹɪk, -ɜː(ɹ)mɹɪk, -uːmɹɪk

Noun

turmeric (countable and uncountable, plural turmerics)

  1. (botany) An Indian plant, Curcuma longa, with aromatic rhizomes, part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
  2. (cooking) The pulverized rhizome of the turmeric plant, used for flavoring and to add a bright yellow color to food.
    Synonym: haldi
  3. A yellow to reddish-brown dye extracted from the turmeric plant.
    Synonym: E100
    turmeric:  

Derived terms
Derived terms

Translations

See also

References
  • “termerite, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-25.
  • Klein, Dr. Ernest, A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., 1971.

Further reading
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