5 definitions found for Curcuma

Curcuma n 1: tropical Asiatic perennial herbs [syn: Curcuma, genus Curcuma]

curcuma
n.
1 the spice turmeric.
2 any tuberous plant of the genus Curcuma, yielding this and other commercial substances.
Etymology: med.L or mod.L f. Arab. kurkum saffron f. Skr. kunkumam

curcuma ˈkə:kjumə n. 1 the spice turmeric. 2 any tuberous plant of the genus Curcuma, yielding this and other commercial substances. [med.L or mod.L f. Arab. kurkum saffron f. Skr. kunkumam]

Zedoary Zed"o*a*ry, n. [F. z['e]doaire, LL. zedoaria; cf. It. zedoaria, zettovario, Pg. zedoaria, Sp. zedoaria, cedoaria; all fr. Ar. & Per. zedw?r.] (Med.) A medicinal substance obtained in the East Indies, having a fragrant smell, and a warm, bitter, aromatic taste. It is used in medicine as a stimulant. Note: It is the rhizome of different species of Curcuma, esp. C. zedoaria, and comes in short, firm pieces, externally of a wrinkled gray, ash-colored appearance, but within of a brownish red color. There are two kinds, round zedoary, and long zedoary.

Curcuma Cur"cu*ma (k?r"k?-m?), n. [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma; all fr. Ar. kurkum. Cf. Turmeric.] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the order Scitamine[ae], including the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). Curcuma paper. (Chem.) See Turmeric paper, under Turmeric.