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

Grains: White rice, brown rice, quinoa, spelt, oats, buckwheat, millet, and gluten-free pastas and breads can be incorporated into the diet as tolerated. —Roxana Ehsani, Health, 10 July 2024

There’s a charred cauliflower with spiced labneh and toasted buckwheat that’s out of this world. —Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2024

Soaking buckwheat hulls, for example, will ruin them. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 9 July 2024

Bypass the barbecue, and instead try Pyongyang naengmyeon, North Korean buckwheat noodles in an icy beef broth, from Wooraeok and Jinmi Pyeongyang Naengmyeon. —Katie Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 June 2023

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

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