Adjacent Words

Cumin definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CUMIN, n. [L., Gr.] An annual plant of one species, whose seeds have a bitterish warm taste, with an aromatic flavor.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: dwarf Mediterranean annual long cultivated for its aromatic seeds [syn: cumin, Cuminum cyminum]
2: aromatic seeds of the cumin herb of the carrot family [syn: cumin, cumin seed]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cymen, from Latin cuminum, from Greek kyminon, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian kam?nu cumin Date: before 12th century a small annual herb (Cuminum cyminum) of the carrot family cultivated for its aromatic fruits; also the seedlike fruit of cumin used as a spice

Britannica Concise

Small, slender annual herb (Cuminum cyminum) of the carrot family, cultivated in the Mediterranean region, India, China, and Mexico. Its seeds, which are actually dried fruits, are used in many mixed spices, chutneys, and chili and curry powders; cumin is especially popular in Asian, N. African, and Latin Amer. cuisines. Its oil is used in perfumes, for flavoring liquors, and for medicinal purposes.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also cummin) 1 an umbelliferous plant, Cuminum cyminum, bearing aromatic seeds. 2 these seeds used as flavouring, esp. ground and used in curry powder. Etymology: ME f. OF cumin, comin f. L cuminum f. Gk kuminon, prob. of Semitic orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Cumin Cum"in (k?m"?n), n. [OE. comin, AS. cymen, fr. L. cuminum, Gr.???????; of Semitic origin, cf. Ar. kamm?n, Heb. kamm?n; cf. OF. comin, F. cumin. Cf. Kummel.] (Bot.) A dwarf umbelliferous plant, somewhat resembling fennel (Cuminum Cyminum), cultivated for its seeds, which have a bitterish, warm taste, with an aromatic flavor, and are used like those of anise and caraway. [Written also cummin.] Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. --Spenser. Black cumin (Bot.), a plant (Nigella sativa) with pungent seeds, used by the Afghans, etc.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Cumin is a sweet-smelling spice, and is popular in Indian cooking.