fenugreek

fenugreek
/fen"yoo greek', fen"oo-/, n.
a plant, Trigonella foenum-graecum, of the legume family, indigenous to western Asia, but extensively cultivated elsewhere, chiefly for forage and for its mucilaginous seeds, which are used in medicine.
[bef. 1000; ME fenugrek, OE fenogrecum < L fenum Graecum lit., Greek hay. See FENNEL]

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Slender, annual, herbaceous legume (Trigonella foenum-graecum) or its dried seeds, used as a food, a flavoring, and a medicine.

Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, the plant is cultivated in central and southeastern Europe, western Asia, India, and northern Africa. The seeds smell and taste strong, sweetish, and somewhat bitter, like burnt sugar. Mealy in texture, they may be mixed with flour for bread or eaten raw or cooked. The herb is a characteristic ingredient in some curries and chutneys and is used to make imitation maple syrup.

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herb
also spelled  Foenugreek 

      (species Trigonella foenum-graecum), slender annual herb of the pea family (Fabaceae) or its dried seeds, used as a food, a flavouring, and a medicine. The seeds' aroma and taste are strong, sweetish, and somewhat bitter, reminiscent of burnt sugar. They are farinaceous in texture and may be mixed with flour for bread or eaten raw or cooked. The herb is a characteristic ingredient in some curries and chutneys and is used to make imitation maple syrup. In India young fenugreek plants are used as a potherb. In northern Africa the plants are used for fodder. Traditionally considered an aid to digestion, the seeds have been used as an internal emollient for inflammation of the digestive tract and as an external poultice for boils and abscesses; but their present medical use is principally confined to the treatment of cows and horses.

      Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, the plant is cultivated in central and southeastern Europe, western Asia, India, and northern Africa. The plants are erect, loosely branched, less than 3 feet (1 m) tall with trifoliate, light green leaves and small white flowers. The slender pods are up to 6 inches (15 cm) long, curved and beaked, and contain yellow-brown seeds—flat rhomboids characterized by a deep furrow, less than 0.2 inch (1 cm) long. They contain the alkaloids trigonelline and choline and a yellow colouring matter.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fenugreek — Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked) …   Wikipedia

  • Fenugreek — Fen u*greek (? or ?), n. [L. faenum Graecum, lit., Greek hay: cf. F. fenugrec. Cf. {Fennel}.] (Bot.) A plant ({trigonella F[oe]num Gr[ae]cum}) cultivated for its strong smelling seeds, which are now only used for giving false importance to horse… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fenugreek — (n.) O.E. fenograecum, from L. faenugraecum, lit. Greek hay, from faenum (see FENNEL (Cf. fennel)) + Graecum. The modern form in English is from M.Fr. fenugrec …   Etymology dictionary

  • fenugreek — ► NOUN ▪ a white flowered plant of the pea family, with aromatic seeds that are used as a spice. ORIGIN from Latin faenum graecum Greek hay (the Romans used the dried plant as fodder) …   English terms dictionary

  • fenugreek — [fen′yo͞o grēk΄] n. [ME fenugrek < OFr fenugrec < L faenum graecum, lit., Greek hay] a leguminous herb (Trigonella foenumgraecum) native to SE Europe and W Asia, used for forage and formerly in medicine and having seeds used in cooking …   English World dictionary

  • fenugreek — n. annual herb of western Asia and Europe that is used in medication and as a seasoning; seeds of the fenugreek plant that are used as a seasoning …   English contemporary dictionary

  • fenugreek — vaistinė ožragė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos daržovinis, maistinis, pašarinis, prieskoninis, vaistinis augalas (Trigonella foenum graecum), paplitęs Azijoje, pietų Europoje. Naudojamas maisto priedams, eteriniams aliejams… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • fenugreek — ožragė statusas T sritis augalininkystė atitikmenys: lot. Trigonella angl. fenugreek rus. пажитник …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

  • fenugreek seed — noun aromatic seeds used as seasoning especially in curry • Syn: ↑fenugreek • Hypernyms: ↑flavorer, ↑flavourer, ↑flavoring, ↑flavouring, ↑seasoner, ↑seasoning …   Useful english dictionary

  • fenugreek — noun Etymology: Middle English fenugrek, from Anglo French fenugrec, from Latin fenum Graecum, literally, Greek hay Date: 14th century a leguminous annual Eurasian herb (Trigonella foenum graecum) with aromatic seeds; also its seeds …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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