oregano

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noun oreg·a·no \ ə-ˈre-gə-ˌnō \

Definition of oregano

1 :a bushy perennial mint (Origanum vulgare) with leaves that are used as a seasoning and a source of aromatic oil — called also origanum, wild marjoram

2 :any of several plants (genera Lippia and Coleus) other than oregano of the vervain or mint families

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Examples of oregano in a Sentence

The recipe calls for a tablespoon of chopped oregano.

Recent Examples of oregano from the Web

Use a fork to crush the eggplant in the pan to a chunky consistency, then add the tomatoes and the teaspoon of fresh oregano.

— emily horton, sacbee, "Eggplant and tomato make the pasta sauce of summer," 29 Aug. 2017
Place a few slices of lemon and a few sprigs of the oregano in each of the cavities.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Grilled Whole Red Snapper with Sea Salt and Fresh Oregano Mix and Black Olive and Feta Relish," 25 Aug. 2017
Loads of greens and herbs will also be available, including arugula, basil, sorrel, collards, rainbow chard, cilantro, dill, thyme, oregano, kale and half a dozen kinds of lettuces.

— donna freedman, Alaska Dispatch News, "Local produce is at its peak – now’s the time to hit farmers markets for something fresh," 15 Aug. 2017
The mealworm burger patties, which also contain rice, carrots and spices such as oregano and chili, will cost 8.95 francs ($9.24) for a pack of two, spokesman Urs Meier said by phone.

— richard weiss, Bloomberg.com, "Bug Burgers Are Coming to Swiss Stores," 14 Aug. 2017
No Noodle Lasagna: our meat option features ricotta, meatballs, red onion, salt, pepper, roasted garlic, oregano and basil.

— chris sims, Indianapolis Star, "Indy Pizza Week deals for your taste buds, wallet and soul," 14 Aug. 2017
Kitchen basics like mint, thyme and oregano mingled with sassafras, bee balm, hyssop and chicory.

— Washington Post, "Food is free for the taking at floating ‘forest’ in NYC," 5 Aug. 2017
Stop machine and settle in the bowl 2 cups fresh basil leaves and flowers (or better yet, 1 1/2 cups basil leaves plus 1/2 cup mixed fresh parsley, oregano and thyme leaves).

— leah eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Corn pudding recipe transfers fresh, crisp kernels into rich, creamy goodness," 18 July 2017
Oregano — lots of it — and red wine vinegar are the stand-out flavors in the marinade.

— linda giuca and christopher prosperi, courant.com, "Chicken Oreganato: A Favorite Oven-Roasted Or Grilled," 11 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oregano.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of oregano

American Spanish orégano, from Spanish, wild marjoram, from Latin origanum — more at origanum

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First Known Use: 1771

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OREGANO Defined for English Language Learners

oregano

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noun

Definition of oregano for English Language Learners

: an herb that has green leaves with a sweet smell which are used in cooking

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See words that rhyme with oregano Spanish Central: Translation of oregano Nglish: Translation of oregano for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oregano

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