thyme

thyme
/tuym/; spelling pron. /thuym/, n.
any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Thymus, of the mint family, including the common garden herb T. vulgaris, a low subshrub having narrow, aromatic leaves used for seasoning.
[1350-1400; ME < L thymum < Gk thýmon]

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Pungent herb (Thymus vulgaris) of the mint family, native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and Central Asia, and cultivated in North America.

A small, low-growing shrub, it has small, curled leaves that give off a fragrant odour when crushed. The dried leaves and flowering tops are used to flavour a wide range of foods. Bees are fond of thyme, and Sicily's thyme honey has been famous for centuries. The essential oil has antiseptic and anesthetic properties and is used as an internal medicine; it is also used in perfumes and toothpastes.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Walter Chandoha

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herb
 (Thymus vulgaris), pungent herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae, or Labiatae), the dried leaves and flowering tops of which are used to flavour a wide range of foods, including poultry, stuffings, fish, eggs, meats, butter, sauces, soups, sausages, salads, vegetables, cottage and cream cheeses, fresh tomatoes, and pastas. It is one of the herbs used to flavour Benedictine liqueur. Thyme is a characteristic seasoning in the traditional English dish jugged hare. Bees are fond of thyme, and thyme honey of Sicily has been famous for hundreds of years. In ancient Greek temples, thyme was burned as incense. Pliny the Elder referred to it as a fumigant.

      The plant is a small, low-growing shrub with curled leaves. Thyme is native to southern Europe, the Mediterranean region, Asia Minor, and Central Asia and is also cultivated in North America. Dried thyme leaves are greenish brown in colour and have a fragrant odour when crushed. The taste is warm and pungent.

      Thyme contains about 1 percent essential oil, the principal component of which is thymol, or thyme camphor. Thymol is used in the manufacture of perfumes and dentifrices. It has antiseptic and anesthetic properties and is used as an internal medicine.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Thyme — (t[imac]m), n. [OE. tyme, L. thymum, Gr. qy mon, qy mos; cf. qy ein, to sacrifice, qy os a sacrifice, offering, incense: cf. F. thym; perhaps so named because of its sweet smell. Cf. {Fume}, n.] (Bot.) Any plant of the labiate genus {Thymus}. The …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thyme — [ taım ] noun uncount a small plant with very small leaves used for adding flavor to food. Thyme is an herb …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • thyme — [taım] n [U] [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: thym, from Latin, from Greek thymon, from thyein to burn something as an offering to a god ] a plant used for giving food a special taste …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • thyme — (n.) plant of the mint family, late 14c., from O.Fr. thym, tym (13c.), from L. thymum, from Gk. thymon, possibly from thyein burn as a sacrifice, which would indicate the plant was used as incense …   Etymology dictionary

  • thyme — ► NOUN ▪ a low growing aromatic plant of the mint family, used in cooking. ORIGIN Greek thumon, from thuein burn, sacrifice …   English terms dictionary

  • thyme — [tīm] n. [ME < MFr thym < L thymum < Gr thymon < thyein, to sacrifice, smoke < IE base * dheu > DULL] 1. any of a genus (Thymus, esp. T. vulgaris) of shrubby plants or aromatic herbs of the mint family, with white, pink, or red… …   English World dictionary

  • Thyme — Este artículo o sección necesita una revisión de ortografía y gramática. Puedes colaborar editándolo (lee aquí sugerencias para mejorar tu ortografía). Cuando se haya corregido, borra este aviso por favor …   Wikipedia Español

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