Zingiber officinale
- noun
- /ˈzɪŋɪbər ɔˈfɪsɪneɪl/
- Specialized
:
jengibre
- Powdered Zingiber officinale is commonly used as a spice in baking and cooking.
Examples
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The medicinal properties of Zingiber officinale have been studied for centuries in both Asia and the West.
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Zingiber officinale is often used in traditional medicine.
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Many chefs prefer fresh Zingiber officinale when preparing authentic curries and stir-fries.
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The Zingiber officinale plant thrives in warm climates.
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In cooking, Zingiber officinale adds a warm, spicy flavor to many dishes.
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Many herbal remedies use Zingiber officinale for its beneficial properties.
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When making chai, I always include Zingiber officinale for an extra kick.
Synonyms
12
2.2
A plant with thick aromatic roots grown for cooking and medicine
A tropical Asian plant with a spicy root used to add flavor to food
Surface Forms
Morphology
Zingiber + officinale
This is a Latin binomial: 'officinale' transparently signals medicinal use, so a learner who knows that constituent might infer it denotes a medicinal plant. However 'Zingiber' is a proper Latin genus name (not a common English word) and the specific identity 'ginger' is a lexicalized label that cannot be derived from the parts alone. Because part of the meaning (medicinal plant) is inferable but the exact referent (ginger) is not predictable, it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Zingiber officinale may come from an old Asian word for 'horn' because the ginger's bumpy root looks like small horns, and the first part Zingiber hints at that shape while the Latin word officinale was used for plants sold in 'medicine' shops. So the name points to a horn-shaped root valued as a spice and for 'medicine'.