buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌ(h)wēt How to pronounce buckwheat (audio)
1
: any of a genus (Fagopyrum of the family Polygonaceae, the buckwheat family) of Eurasian herbs with alternate leaves, clusters of apetalous pinkish-white flowers, and triangular seeds
especially : either of two plants (F. esculentum and F. tartaricum) cultivated for their edible seeds
2
: the seed of a buckwheat used as a cereal grain

Examples of buckwheat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the Brittany, France region, a variation called the Breton galette, made with buckwheat flour and resembling a pancake, is often found in crêperies. Anna Theoktisto, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2023 Research has found that buckwheat honey has one of the strongest antioxidant activity. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Dec. 2023 For this, chiropractor recommended bed pillows have unusual stuffings inside them, namely buckwheat and millet hulls. Brianna Kamienski, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Environmental impact of buckwheat and millet pillows Besides their health benefits, buckwheat and millet pillows have also been revered for their sustainability and eco-friendliness. Sixteen Ramos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 How about Brazilian pizza, breadfruit or buckwheat? Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2024 Compare, for example, the depth and nuttiness of darker buckwheat and chestnut honeys, which are particularly well paired with aged spirits. M. Carrie Allan, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 Some is combined with flax, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, sunflower, sesame, rye and sprouted wheat to become Seeded Utility Bread. Anne Brockhoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 At this casual restaurant, the five grains are literal: The noodle soup includes strands made from rice, buckwheat, millet, sorghum and corn. Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buckwheat.' 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

Dutch boekweit, from Middle Dutch boecweit, from boec- (akin to Old High German buohha beech tree) + weit wheat — more at beech

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buckwheat was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near buckwheat

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

buckwheat

noun
buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌhwēt How to pronounce buckwheat (audio)
-ˌwēt
: either of two plants with white or greenish flowers that are grown for their dark triangular seeds which are used as a cereal grain
also : the seeds of a buckwheat

More from Merriam-Webster on buckwheat

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!