buckwheat

[ buhk-hweet, -weet ]

noun

1. a plant, especially Fagopyrum esculentum, cultivated for its triangular seeds, which are used as a feed for animals or made into a flour for human consumption, as in pancakes or cereal. Compare buckwheat family.
2. the seeds of this plant.
3. Also buckwheat flour. flour made from seeds of buckwheat.

adjective

1. made with buckwheat flour:

   buckwheat pancakes.

buckwheat

/ ˈbʌkˌwiːt /

noun

1. any of several polygonaceous plants of the genus Fagopyrum , esp F. esculentum , which has fragrant white flowers and is cultivated, esp in the US, for its seeds
2. the edible seeds of this plant, ground into flour or used as animal fodder
3. the flour obtained from these seeds

Other Words From

• buck·wheat·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of buckwheat¹

1540–50; obsolete buck ( Old English bōc beech ) + wheat; compare Dutch boekweit, German Buchweizen; so called because its seeds resemble beechnuts

Word History and Origins

Origin of buckwheat¹

C16: from Middle Dutch boecweite , from boeke beech + weite wheat , from the resemblance of their seeds to beechnuts

Example Sentences

“It is thrilling to hike through the preserve with over 150 native plants and animals. Birds and other pollinators flock to salvia, buckwheat and yarrow. The dramatic silver-leafed Dudleya were blooming gloriously.”

From Los Angeles Times

Her recommendations include multiple buckwheats, including California buckwheat, and Yankee Point ceanothus, an evergreen groundcover that has beautiful spring flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

Her recommendations include multiple buckwheats, including California buckwheat and Yankee Point ceanothus, an evergreen groundcover that has beautiful spring flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

Now it’s a rainbow of mustard, linseed, buckwheat, you name it.

From BBC

Here, slender salamanders slink through the leaf litter under robust stands of Santa Cruz Island buckwheat and California fuchsia.

From Los Angeles Times