sesame

American  

[ses-uh-mee] / ˈsɛs ə mi /

noun

1. a tropical, herbaceous plant, Sesamum indicum, whose small oval seeds are edible and yield an oil.

2. the seeds themselves, used to add flavor to bread, crackers, etc.

3. open sesame.

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sesame British  

/ ˈsɛsəmɪ /

noun

1. a tropical herbaceous plant, Sesamum indicum, of the East Indies, cultivated, esp in India, for its small oval seeds: family Pedaliaceae

2. the seeds of this plant, used in flavouring bread and yielding an edible oil ( benne oil or gingili )

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Etymology

Origin of sesame

1400–50; < Greek sēsámē sesame plant ≪ Akkadian shamashshammū, derived from shaman shammī plant oil; replacing sesam, late Middle English sysane < Latin sēsamum < Greek sḗsamon sesame seed

Example Sentences

Swap out the poppy seeds for chia seeds and add sesame seeds, onion flakes, garlic powder and flaky sea salt to make an omega-3-rich rendition of the popular Everything Bagel Seasoning.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Officials worked late nights on their Golden Plan, fueled by snacks of sesame bread and mango.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Everything bagel seasoning on top makes the whole thing slightly addictive: a crunch of sesame, poppy and salt that hits first, then the creamy tang of goat cheese and the sweet-savory onion jam.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2025

It now includes a strawberry matcha latte, black sesame matcha, and coconut matcha cloud.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

Cat ordered and paid, then handed Chicken the crinkly bakery bag with three sesame buns inside.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn