turmeric

American  

[tur-mer-ik, too-, tyoo-] / ˈtɜr mər ɪk, ˈtu-, ˈtyu- /

noun

1. the aromatic rhizome of an Asian plant, Curcuma domestica (orC. longa ), of the ginger family.

2. a powder prepared from it, used as a condiment, as in curry powder, or as a yellow dye, a medicine, etc.

3. the plant itself.

4. any of various similar substances or plants.

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turmeric British  

/ ˈtɜːmərɪk /

noun

1. a tropical Asian zingiberaceous plant, Curcuma longa , having yellow flowers and an aromatic underground stem

2. the powdered stem of this plant, used as a condiment and as a yellow dye

3. any of several other plants with similar roots

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Etymology

Origin of turmeric

First recorded in 1530–40; alteration of earlier tarmaret, late Middle English termerite, turmerite; akin to Medieval Latin terra merita, French terre-mérite, literally “merited earth,” an unexplained name for curcuma ( def. )

Explanation

Turmeric is a plant that's related to ginger and is commonly used in cooking. The turmeric used as a spice is made by grinding and drying the root of the turmeric plant. When a recipe calls for ground turmeric, you'll reach for a bright yellow powder with a mustard-like smell. Turmeric adds this hue to the dishes it's included in, as well as a slightly bitter flavor. It's used in a wide variety of dishes world-wide, although it's particularly common in South and East Asian foods like Indian curries, Vietnamese bánh xèo, and Thai turmeric soup. Some experts believe turmeric comes from the Medieval Latin terra merita, or "worthy earth."

Example Sentences

Emerging portable testing methods include X-ray fluorescence analysers for turmeric and handheld DNA kits to test olive oil.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

The likes of turmeric shots, ginger drinks and fancy nasal sprays do nothing to boost your immune system, according to Dr McCartney.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025

A marinade of yogurt, underripe mango, ginger, garlic and turmeric lends sweet-sharp depth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

General Mills learned in 2016 that shoppers weren’t fans of a new Trix cereal made with all-natural ingredients, including dyes derived from radishes, purple carrots and turmeric.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025

We watched as he fried the onion in a big pan and sprinkled in some mustard seed, garlic, salt, cumin, turmeric, and chopped ginger.

From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani