turmeric

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”).

noun

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

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