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noun Uncommon

sesame

SEH-suh-mee

Sesame (noun) means a plant grown for its small, oily seeds, or the seeds themselves, widely used in cooking. Example: “The bagel was topped with sesame seeds.”

noun
1
A plant grown for its small, oily seeds, or the seeds themselves, widely used in cooking.
"The bagel was topped with sesame seeds."
"Sesame oil gives the stir-fry a nutty flavor."

How to use sesame

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe small seed (or the plant it comes from) used in cooking and for its oil.

Common pairings
sesame seeds sesame oil sesame street

Word forms

sesames plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The bagel was topped with _____ seeds.

Etymology

From Latin sesamum, from Greek sesamon, ultimately traced back through Aramaic to an old Akkadian word meaning "oil plant."

Origin: Latin

benny benne benni

Related words

Rhymes for sesame

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Frequently asked questions

What does “sesame” mean?

The word “sesame” means a plant grown for its small, oily seeds, or the seeds themselves, widely used in cooking. In plain terms, the small seed (or the plant it comes from) used in cooking and for its oil.

How do you pronounce “sesame”?

“Sesame” is pronounced SEH-suh-mee (/ˈsɛsəmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “sesame” in a sentence?

Here is “sesame” used in a sentence: “The bagel was topped with sesame seeds.”

What part of speech is “sesame”?

“Sesame” is a noun.

Where does the word “sesame” come from?

The word “sesame” comes from Latin. From Latin sesamum, from Greek sesamon, ultimately traced back through Aramaic to an old Akkadian word meaning "oil plant.".

Is “sesame” a common word?

“Sesame” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial