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Glite Dictionary
Coriandrum sativum

Coriandrum sativum

5.2
An herb with fragrant leaves and small seeds used in cooking, called coriander or cilantro
  • noun
  • /ˌkɔːriˈændrəm ˈsætɪvəm/
translation icon : cilantro
  • In some regions, Coriandrum sativum is called cilantro, while in others, it's known as coriander.

Examples

  • The chef sprinkled fresh leaves of Coriandrum sativum over the spicy curry just before serving.

  • Coriandrum sativum is commonly grown for its fragrant leaves and seeds used in many cuisines worldwide.

  • I love adding Coriandrum sativum to my salads.

  • The recipe calls for fresh Coriandrum sativum leaves.

  • Adding chopped Coriandrum sativum to the salad gave it a fresh, vibrant flavor.

  • The dish was garnished with Coriandrum sativum, enhancing its aroma and taste.

  • She always includes Coriandrum sativum in her recipes for a unique spice.

Synonyms

cilantro
vsCoriandrum sativum
  • US
41 3.5

An herb with fresh green leaves used to add flavor to food, also called coriander

includes seeds as well rather than focusing only on leaves
coriander
vsCoriandrum sativum
  • UK
5 2.8

Fresh green leaves that add flavor to food

focuses on both leaves and seeds used widely in cooking
coriander plant
vsCoriandrum sativum
3.5

A small green herb with feathery leaves and seeds used as a spice, also called cilantro

is the scientific Latin name for the same herb used in cooking
Chinese parsley
vsCoriandrum sativum
2.8

A green herb with flat leaves used to add fresh flavor to food

is the plant's formal scientific name rather than a local cooking name

Surface Forms

Coriandrum sativum singular
Coriandrum sativums plural
Coriandrum sativum singular

Morphology

Coriandrum + sativum

This is a scientific Latin binomial: 'Coriandrum' identifies a genus of herbs (so the components indicate a plant), while 'sativum' is a Latin species epithet and not a common English word. The phrase is therefore partially transparent — learners who know the technical constituents may infer it names a plant, but they generally need botanical or Latin knowledge to map it to the everyday word 'coriander/cilantro', so it is not fully transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Coriandrum sativum may come from old Greek and Latin words. The first part, Coriandrum, may come from a Greek word for a small 'bug' because crushed leaves can smell strong, and sativum means 'sown' or 'cultivated', so the name is like saying 'cultivated coriander', the herb we use in cooking.