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Webster 1913 Edition

Turmeric

Tur′mer-ic

,
Noun.
[F.
terre-mérite
, NL.
terramerita
,
turmerica
; apparently meaning, excellent earth, but perhaps a corruption of Ar.
kurkum
. Cf.
Curcuma
.]
1.
(Bot.)
An East Indian plant of the genus
Curcuma
, of the Ginger family.
2.
The root or rootstock of the
Curcuma longa
. It is externally grayish, but internally of a deep, lively yellow or saffron color, and has a slight aromatic smell, and a bitterish, slightly acrid taste. It is used for a dye, a medicine, a condiment, and a chemical test.

Tur′mer-ic

,
Adj.
(Chem.)
Of or pertaining to turmeric; resembling, or obtained from, turmeric; specif., designating an acid obtained by the oxidation of turmerol.
Turmeric paper
(Chem.)
,
paper impregnated with turmeric and used as a test for alkaline substances, by which it is changed from yellow to brown.
–
Turmeric root
.
(Bot.)
(a)
Bloodroot.
(b)
Orangeroot.

Webster 1828 Edition

Turmeric

TUR'MERIC

,
Noun.
Indian saffron; a medicinal root brought from the East Indies, the root of the Curcuma longa. It is externally grayish, but internally of a deep lively yellow or saffron color. It has a slight aromatic smell, and a bitterish, slightly acrid taste. It is used for dyeing, and in some cases, as a medicine. This name is sometimes given to the blood-root of America.

Definition 2024

turmeric

turmeric

English

Noun

turmeric ‎(countable and uncountable, plural turmerics)

  1. An Indian plant, Curcuma longa, with aromatic rhizomes, part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
  2. The pulverized rhizome of the turmeric plant, used for stimulation, flavoring and to add a bright yellow color to food.
  3. A yellow to reddish-brown dye extracted from the turmeric plant.
    turmeric colour:    

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

References

  1. ↑ “turmeric” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).
  2. ↑ “turmeric” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.

Etymology

From Middle English / early modern English turmeryte, tarmaret, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Middle French terremérite ‎(“worthy earth”).[1][2]

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈtɜɹ.mə.ɹɪk/, [ˈtʰɝ.mɚ.ɹɪk] or IPA(key): /ˈtuː.mə.ɹɪk/, [ˈtʰu.mɚ.ɹɪk]
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtɜːmə.ɹɪk/ or IPA(key): /ˈtuːmə.ɹɪk/
  • (also) IPA(key): /ˈtjuːmə.ɹɪk/, /ˈtuː.mɛɚ.(ɹ)ɪk/

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