turmeric

[ˈtʰu.mɚ.ɪk]

UK: /ˈtʃuː.m(ə).ɹɪk/

TʰU · mɚ · ɪk (3 syllables)

English Noun Top 37,213
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Definition

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

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.

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