noun
cumin
KYOO-mihn
noun
1
A flowering plant grown for its aromatic seeds.
"Farmers in the region have grown cumin for centuries."
2
The earthy, aromatic seed of this plant, widely used as a spice.
"She toasted the cumin seeds before grinding them into the curry paste."
"Cumin gives the taco seasoning its warm, smoky flavor."
How to Use Cumin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warm, earthy spice used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cooking.
Common pairings
ground cumin
cumin seeds
a pinch of cumin
Word Forms
cumins plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cumin”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farmers in the region have grown _____ for centuries.
Etymology
Traced back through Old English and Old French to Latin cuminum, itself from Greek kúminon, ultimately from an ancient Middle Eastern word for the spice.