caraway

/'kærəwei/

Thân thiện

A chef sprinkles caraway leaves into a simmering pot of soup.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Eurasian herb (Carum carvi) of the parsley family: A biennial plant with finely divided, feathery leaves and small white or pinkish flowers arranged in umbels.
   • The aromatic seed-like fruit of this plant: The small, brown, crescent-shaped seeds used as a spice, known for their distinctive, warm, slightly bitter, and anise-like flavor.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):

  • The caraway is cultivated for its seeds and its leaves.
  • A field of caraway was in bloom, covered with tiny white flowers.

• Noun (Seed/Spice):

  • The recipe calls for a teaspoon of caraway.
  • Rye bread is often flavored with caraway.

Advanced Usage

• "Caraway seed": This is the most common specific term for the spice itself.
  • Caraway seed is essential for authentic sauerkraut.
• In a botanical or culinary context, "caraway" can function attributively as a noun modifier.
  • caraway oil (an essential oil distilled from the seeds)
  • caraway flavor

Variants and Related Words

• Caraway seed: The specific term for the dried fruit used as a spice.
• Carum carvi: The botanical Latin name for the caraway plant.

Synonyms

• Meridian fennel: A less common alternative name for the caraway plant.
• Persian cumin: A historical name, though it is a distinct spice from common cumin (Cuminum cyminum).

Notes on Different Meanings

The word "caraway" consistently refers to the plant Carum carvi or its seeds. There are no significantly different metaphorical or idiomatic meanings. The reference to leaves in some definitions is a minor, less common usage; the primary meaning is the seed used as a spice.

Học thuật

Noun

1. leaves used sparingly in soups and stews
2. a Eurasian plant with small white flowers yielding caraway seed

Từ đồng nghĩa

• carum carvi