amomum

noun

amo·​mum
əˈmōməm
1
capitalized : a large genus of herbs (family Zingiberaceae) found in tropical regions of the Old World and differing from members of the genus Zingiber only in having the anther cells divergent and the connective between them not long-spurred
2
plural -s : a plant of the genus Amomum
3
-s : the fruit or root of an amomum plant

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, an aromatic shrub, from Greek amōmon

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of amomum was in the 14th century

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near amomum

Cite this Entry

“Amomum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amomum. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!