curcuma longa

3 definitions found

curcuma longa - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Turmeric \Tur"mer*ic\, n. [F. terre-m['e]rite, NL. terramerita,
     turmerica; apparently meaning, excellent earth, but perhaps a
     corruption of Ar. kurkum. Cf. Curcuma.]
     1. (Bot.) An East Indian plant of the genus Curcuma, of the
        Ginger family.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The root or rootstock of the Curcuma longa. It is
        externally grayish, but internally of a deep, lively
        yellow or saffron color, and has a slight aromatic smell,
        and a bitterish, slightly acrid taste. It is used for a
        dye, a medicine, a condiment, and a chemical test.
        [1913 Webster]

  Curcuma \Cur"cu*ma\ (k?r"k?-m?), n. [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma;
     all fr. Ar. kurkum. Cf. Turmeric.] (Bot.)
     A genus of plants of the order Scitamine[ae], including the
     turmeric plant (Curcuma longa).
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Curcuma paper. (Chem.) See Turmeric paper, under
        Turmeric.
        [1913 Webster]

curcuma longa - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Curcuma longa
      n 1: widely cultivated tropical plant of India having yellow
           flowers and a large aromatic deep yellow rhizome; source of
           a condiment and a yellow dye [syn: turmeric, Curcuma longa
           , Curcuma domestica]