# cinnamon

Pronunciation: say "SIN-uh-muhn" /ˈsɪn.ə.mən/

## Noun

1. A spice consisting of the dried, aromatic bark of the cinnamon tree, sold as rolled strips or ground into powder, and traded under that name for several related species.
   - Simple: A sweet-smelling brown spice made from the dried bark of a tree, used in cooking and baking.
   - _A pinch of cinnamon transformed the plain rice pudding._
   - _The market stall sold cinnamon both as fragrant quills and as fine powder._
2. Cinnamomum verum, also called Cinnamomum zeylanicum, a small evergreen tree of the laurel family, Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka and southern India.
   - Simple: A small evergreen tree from Sri Lanka and southern India whose bark is dried to make the spice.
   - _Each cinnamon on the estate is coppiced to encourage new shoots._
   - _Botanists classify the cinnamon within the laurel family._
3. Several trees related to true cinnamon, notably Indonesian cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmanni) and Chinese cinnamon, or cassia (Cinnamomum cassia).
   - Simple: A group of related trees, such as Indonesian and Chinese types, whose bark is also sold as the spice.
   - _Indonesian cinnamon, Cinnamomum burmanni, is harvested across the islands of Southeast Asia._
   - _Chinese cinnamon supplies most of the bark sold in American stores, far outstripping the Sri Lankan tree._
4. A warm yellowish-brown color, similar to the color of the cinnamon spice.
   - Simple: A warm yellow-brown color, like the spice.
   - _The designer chose a warm cinnamon for the fall collection._
   - _Among the paint samples, the cinnamons ranged from pale tan to rich russet._
7. The spice produced specifically from Cinnamomum verum, the true cinnamon of Sri Lanka, as distinct from cassia.
   - Simple: The spice made only from the bark of the true cinnamon tree of Sri Lanka.
   - _Sri Lankan farmers harvest the delicate bark that becomes true cinnamon._
   - _Connoisseurs prefer true cinnamon, finding cassia too harsh for fine desserts._

## Adjective

5. Containing cinnamon, or having the taste of cinnamon.
   - Simple: Made with cinnamon, or tasting of it.
   - _He spread a thick cinnamon glaze over the rolls._
   - _The dessert had a rich cinnamon flavor._
6. Having a yellowish-brown color.
   - Simple: Having a warm brownish color.
   - _The bird's cinnamon feathers stood out against the snow._
   - _He chose a cinnamon leather for the armchair._

## Origin

It comes from Middle English synamome, from Old French cinnamone, from Latin cinnamon (cinnamomum), from Ancient Greek kinnámōmon (later kínnamon). According to Herodotus this came from Phoenician, and it is related to the Hebrew qinnāmōn.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cinnamon (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).