Definition

Noun: 1. A Mediterranean herb with pungent seeds: "Nutmeg flower" refers to a specific aromatic plant (Nigella sativa) native to the Mediterranean region. Its small black seeds have a pungent, peppery flavor and are used as a spice, similar in culinary application to caraway seeds.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The recipe calls for a teaspoon of ground nutmeg flower seeds.
  • Nutmeg flower has been cultivated for both its culinary and medicinal properties for centuries.
  • The seeds of the nutmeg flower are sometimes called black cumin.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical and Culinary Context: The term is primarily used in botanical, culinary, or historical contexts to specify this particular plant and its seeds. It is less common in everyday modern cooking terminology, where "black seed" or "Nigella sativa" might be used.
  • Historical texts often mention the nutmeg flower as a valuable spice.

Variants and Related Words

• Nigella sativa (n): The botanical Latin name for the nutmeg flower plant.
• Black cumin (n): A common name for the seeds of the nutmeg flower. (Note: This can cause confusion with other spices, such as ).
• Kalonji (n): A name for the seeds used in South Asian cuisine.
• Roman coriander (n): Another historical name for the spice.

Synonyms

• Black seed: A direct descriptive synonym for the seeds.
• Fennel flower: Another common name for the plant .

Notes on Meaning

It is critical to distinguish "nutmeg flower" from "nutmeg." They are entirely different spices from unrelated plants: * Nutmeg flower (Nigella sativa): A small annual herb with tiny black seeds. * Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans): A large evergreen tree whose fruit produces the separate spices nutmeg (the seed) and mace (the aril).

Noun

1. herb of the Mediterranean region having pungent seeds used like those of caraway