turmeric meaning: definition, etymology

turmeric

noun

US /ˈtɝ.mɚ.ɪk/ · UK /ˈtɜː.m(ə).ɹɪk/

Etymology From Middle English turmeryte, tarmaret, of uncertain origin. Possibly corrupted from Arabic كُرْكُم (kurkum, “Curcuma”) or from Old French terre mérite (“deserving earth”), potentially as a folk etymology of the Arabic.

Biology, Botany, Natural sciences An Indian plant (Curcuma longa), with aromatic rhizomes, part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).

Cooking, Food, Lifestyle The pulverized rhizome of the turmeric plant, used for flavoring and to add a bright yellow color to food.

A yellow to reddish-brown dye extracted from the turmeric plant.

Derived terms: turmeric acid, turmeric paper, turmerol, turmerone, white turmeric, wild turmeric
Related terms: curcumin, golden, kunyit, haldi