turmeric

noun

tur·mer·ic | \ ˈtər-mə-rik

also ˈtü-mə- or ˈtyü-\

Definition of turmeric

1 : an Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa synonym C. domestica) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome

2 : the boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used as a coloring agent, a flavoring, or a stimulant

3 : a yellow to reddish-brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric

Examples of turmeric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key dishes include kitchari, a basmati-rice porridge made with split mung beans and turmeric; bone-broth ramen; and red curry with sweet potato noodles. — Alison S. Cohn, Harper's BAZAAR, "Treat Your Baby—and Yourself—Like Royalty With These Luxe Essentials," 20 May 2019 Lately, one has been a citrusy sport tea balanced with hops; the second combines ginger and turmeric. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Find an out-of-the-ordinary coffeehouse to match your mood," 10 Apr. 2018 Canyon Ranch developed healthy meals for the ultralong flight, such as a dinner of beef short ribs flavored with turmeric, an anti-inflammatory. — Scott Mccartney, WSJ, "A Guide to Surviving the Longest Flight in the World," 16 Oct. 2018 Golden Honey, their sweetener, merges raw California clover honey with turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, and coconut oil, producing probiotic benefits, among others. — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "Forget the Spice Rack: These Chef-Approved Ingredients Are All the Seasoning You Need," 16 Aug. 2018 Curcumin, the potent anti-inflammatory chemical found in turmeric, can help decrease inflammation, improve liver detoxification and protect the liver from toxicity, and reduce free radicals. — Samantha Leal, Marie Claire, "How to Drink and Not Get Hungover," 4 Mar. 2016 The Chopra women love to make a mask called Ubtan, which is a traditional Indian face mask made with turmeric and basic food ingredients. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Priyanka Chopra and Her Mom Dish About Their DIY Beauty Secrets," 21 June 2018 Kitties will go nuts for the Chicken & Salmon Rustic Blend, which is beefed up with superfoods like coconut oil and turmeric. — Sunset, "10 Best Healthy Pet Treats," 22 Jan. 2018 It can sometimes be made of up to 20 ingredients, but most versions contain at least coriander, turmeric, cumin, and fenugreek. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "11 Spices Everyone Should Have in Their Pantry," 23 Mar. 2019

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

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16 Jun 2019

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The first known use of turmeric was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for turmeric

turmeric

noun

tur·mer·ic | \ ˈtər-mə-rik

variants: also tumeric \ ˈt(y)ü-mə-

Medical Definition of turmeric

1 : an Indian perennial herb (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome

2 : the cleaned, boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used in dietary supplements and herbal remedies and as a spice — see curcumin

3 : a yellow to reddish brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric