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Glite Dictionary
Trigonella foenumgraecum

Trigonella foenumgraecum

9.9
An annual herb with pale flowers and aromatic seeds that people use as a spice and medicine
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Trigonella foenumgraecum
  • Trigonella foenumgraecum is valued for its seeds, which are an essential spice in many Indian dishes.

Examples

  • Researchers are studying how extracts of Trigonella foenumgraecum could benefit blood sugar control.

  • Trigonella foenumgraecum is commonly found in curries, adding a distinct flavor to the dish.

  • Traditional medicine has long used Trigonella foenumgraecum to aid digestion and reduce inflammation.

  • I added Trigonella foenumgraecum to my spice collection.

  • The Trigonella foenumgraecum seeds have a strong aroma.

  • The seeds of Trigonella foenumgraecum are often used in traditional cooking throughout Asia.

  • In many cultures, Trigonella foenumgraecum is prized for its health benefits and culinary uses.

Synonyms

fenugreek
vsTrigonella foenumgraecum
2 8.8

A plant with small seeds that add a warm, slightly bitter flavor to food, especially curries

focuses on the plant as a botanical species with specific flowers and range
Greek clover
vsTrigonella foenumgraecum
9.5

A plant that lives for one year with pale flowers and fragrant seeds used in cooking and medicine

is the formal scientific Latin name for the same herb

Surface Forms

Trigonella foenumgraecum singular
Trigonella foenumgraeca singular

Morphology

Trigonella + foenumgraecum

This is a Latin scientific binomial rather than an ordinary English phrase; knowing the genus name and a literal reading of the species epithet (even if parsed as ‘Greek hay’) does not give a B1 learner the everyday meaning ‘fenugreek, an aromatic herb used in cooking and medicine’. Scientific names are specialized and culturally/lexically opaque to general learners, so the overall meaning cannot be derived from the parts.

Etymology

Trigonella foenumgraecum comes from old Latin words: Trigonella means 'little triangle' because the leaves often have three small leaflets, and foenum graecum means 'Greek hay' because farmers once used the plant as animal feed. So the long name points to the plant's shape and old use, and today we know it as the herb fenugreek whose seeds are used in cooking and medicine.