buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌ(h)wēt 

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

Plants with wide flat flowers like California native buckwheats (Eriogonum sp.) are choice nectar plants for many butterflies. —The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025

Some popular cover crop options include forage radishes, field peas, winter rye, crimson clover, and buckwheat. 6. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2025

The meal starts with an amuse-bouche of buckwheat blini topped with Osetra caviar and crème fraîche. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

There are large mounds of California buckwheat, tall spires of sweet hummingbird sage and incandescently purple clusters of showy penstemon. —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025

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

Rhymes for buckwheat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete
• crabmeat

Kids Definition

buckwheat

noun

buck·​wheat ˈbək-ˌhwēt 

-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