turmeric
Americannoun
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the aromatic rhizome of an Asian plant, Curcuma domestica (orC. longa ), of the ginger family.
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a powder prepared from it, used as a condiment, as in curry powder, or as a yellow dye, a medicine, etc.
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the plant itself.
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any of various similar substances or plants.
noun
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a tropical Asian zingiberaceous plant, Curcuma longa , having yellow flowers and an aromatic underground stem
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the powdered stem of this plant, used as a condiment and as a yellow dye
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any of several other plants with similar roots
Etymology
Origin of turmeric
First recorded in 1530–40; alteration of earlier tarmaret, late Middle English termerite, turmerite; akin to Medieval Latin terra merita, French terre-mérite, literally “merited earth,” an unexplained name for curcuma ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It's very hard to keep China out of play," said Sharma whose firm Haldy's turmeric mints and packaging are produced in China.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
A marinade of yogurt, underripe mango, ginger, garlic and turmeric lends sweet-sharp depth.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025
General Mills learned in 2016 that shoppers weren’t fans of a new Trix cereal made with all-natural ingredients, including dyes derived from radishes, purple carrots and turmeric.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025
"Even the turmeric I grow on the same land is mine to sell. How can I complain?"
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
Some girls are measuring turmeric and coriander; others are chopping onions and tomatoes.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.