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Glite Dictionary
cumin seed

cumin seed

1 2.4
A small brown seed that adds a warm, slightly bitter taste to food
  • noun
  • /ˈkjuːmɪn siːd/
translation icon : semilla de comino
  • When they start to look blistered, add cumin seeds; stir for a few seconds to release their flavor.
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds

Examples

  • I've got some Italian style herbs and some cumin seeds and then of course spaghetti itself.

  • Rich, saucy vegetable curries, smoky tandoor-cooked meats, rice studded with cumin seeds.

    Blog text (12)

  • Add lentils and cumin seeds, and toast for 30 seconds, or until they become fragrant.

  • Toasting and grinding whole cumin seeds enhances their aromatic flavor in dishes.

Synonyms

cumin
vscumin seed
22 3.2

Small brown seeds used as a spice to add a warm, earthy taste

is the same spice but stated without regional usage detail

How Aromatic

fennel seed
2 3.6
cumin seed
1 2.4
caraway seed
1 3.4

Surface Forms

cumin seed singular
cumin seeds plural

Morphology

cumin + seed

The meaning is directly compositional: 'cumin' names the plant/spice and 'seed' indicates the plant's seed, so 'cumin seed' straightforwardly denotes the aromatic seed of the cumin plant. This is a simple noun‑noun compound pattern found across languages and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Cumin seed names the small seed of the cumin plant that cooks use as a kitchen spice. When you toast or crush the seed, it gives a warm, strong smell and taste, so the name reminds you it is the 'seed' that makes the 'spice' and its 'flavor'.