# turmeric

Pronunciation: US say "TUR-mur-ik" /ˈtɝ.mɚ.ɪk/; UK say "TUR-muh-rik" /ˈtɜː.m(ə).ɹɪk/

## Noun

1. A spice made by grinding the rhizome of the turmeric plant into powder, used to flavor food and give it a bright yellow color.
   - Simple: A bright yellow powder made from a dried plant root, used to flavor and color food.
   - _Authentic curries rely on turmeric for both their warm flavor and golden hue._
   - _A pinch of turmeric turns plain rice a vivid yellow._
2. An Indian plant (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, with aromatic underground rhizomes.
   - Simple: A leafy tropical plant from India whose underground stems give us a yellow spice.
   - _Botanists classify turmeric within the ginger family Zingiberaceae._
   - _Turmeric thrives in hot, humid climates with well-drained soil._
3. A dye ranging from yellow to reddish brown that is obtained from the turmeric plant.
   - Simple: A yellow to reddish-brown coloring taken from the turmeric plant, used to dye things.
   - _Traditional dyers colored monks' robes with turmeric._
   - _Turmeric gives wool a rich golden tone, though the color fades in sunlight._

## Origin

From Middle English turmeryte or tarmaret, of uncertain origin. It may be a corruption of Arabic كُرْكُم (kurkum, 'Curcuma'), or it may come from Old French terre mérite ('deserving earth'), perhaps as a folk etymology of the Arabic word.

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