turmeric

noun

tur·​mer·​ic ˈtər-mə-rik How to pronounce turmeric (audio)
 also  ˈtü-mə-,
 or  ˈtyü-
1
: an Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa synonym C. domestica) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome
2
: the boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used as a coloring agent, a flavoring, or a stimulant
3
: a yellow to reddish-brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric

Examples of turmeric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While blue honors Krishna, red represents love and fertility, yellow signifies turmeric, and green symbolizes nature and new beginnings. The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024 Taking turmeric doesn’t normally cause side effects for most people. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 Two decades on, the millennial glisten has given way to organic austerity; the dominant tones are now ocher and umber, turmeric and coffee. Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Chef Dipika Singh joins Rosenthal at his table for five-star comfort food, such as pao (a small roll made with potato), which is spiced with curry leaves, coriander, mustard seeds, turmeric and chili. Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Turmeric and the active ingredient within it, curcumin, that also gives turmeric its distinctive yellow color and its powerful antioxidants known for fighting inflammation, aging, and even promoting proper liver function. Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2024 Add 2 cups golden raisins, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground red chile and 2 teaspoons salt. Pervaiz Shallwani, WSJ, 9 Feb. 2024 Pair them with beets, spring greens, and a homemade turmeric dressing. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2024 Add the paprika, turmeric, saffron (if using), chicken broth, tomatoes and remaining 1 / 4 teaspoon salt to the pan, and mix together until combined. Cindy Dampier, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turmeric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English turmeryte

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of turmeric was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near turmeric

Cite this Entry

“Turmeric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turmeric. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

turmeric

noun
tur·​mer·​ic ˈtər-mə-rik How to pronounce turmeric (audio)
also
ˈtü-mə- How to pronounce turmeric (audio)
ˈtyü-
1
: an Indian herb related to ginger and having a large yellow underground plant stem
2
: the boiled, dried, and usually ground underground plant stem of turmeric used especially as a flavoring or dye

Medical Definition

turmeric

noun
tur·​mer·​ic ˈtər-mə-rik How to pronounce turmeric (audio)
variants also tumeric
1
: an Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome
2
: the cleaned, boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used in dietary supplements and herbal remedies and as a spice see curcumin
3
: a yellow to reddish brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric

More from Merriam-Webster on turmeric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!