n.
Pronunciation: ' t ə r-m ə -rik also ' tü-m ə - or ' tyü-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English turmeryte
Date: 15th century
1 : an Indian perennial herb ( Curcuma longa syn. C. domestica ) of the ginger family with a large aromatic yellow rhizome
2 : the boiled, dried, and usually ground rhizome of the turmeric plant used as a coloring agent, a flavoring, or a stimulant
3 : a yellow to reddish-brown dyestuff obtained from turmeric