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
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- cumins
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.
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.
