noun

cumin

KYOO-mihn

Cumin (noun) means a flowering plant grown for its aromatic seeds. Example: “Farmers in the region have grown cumin for centuries.”

noun

A flowering plant grown for its aromatic seeds.

"Farmers in the region have grown cumin for centuries."

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 notes

In 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

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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.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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cumin seed

Frequently asked questions

What does “cumin” mean?

The word “cumin” means a flowering plant grown for its aromatic seeds. In plain terms, a warm, earthy spice used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cooking.

How do you pronounce “cumin”?

“Cumin” is pronounced KYOO-mihn (/ˈkumɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “cumin” in a sentence?

Here is “cumin” used in a sentence: “Farmers in the region have grown cumin for centuries.”

What part of speech is “cumin”?

“Cumin” is a noun.

Where does the word “cumin” come from?

The word “cumin” comes from Latin. 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.

How many meanings does “cumin” have?

“Cumin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flowering plant grown for its aromatic seeds.