sesame

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) A tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
2. (countable, uncountable) The seed of this plant.

Synonyms

Sesamum indicum

til

benne

benny

sesame seeds

benni

numb

sesame seed

sisal

sunflower

🌻

torpid

bene

sesamum

togarishi

drugged

flax

hemp

inactive

linseed

Translations

sésame

sesamo

Sesam

sésamo

ajonjolí

gergelim

susam

sesam

sèsam

سمسم

sésamo

σουσαμιά

σουσάμι

جلجلان

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɛsəmi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: sisamie

Cognate with Ancient Greek: σησάμη

In summary

From late Middle English sisamie, from Latin sīsamum, sēsamum, from Ancient Greek σήσαμον (sḗsamon), from Aramaic שושמא (šūššmā), shortening of שומשומא (šumššumā), from Akkadian 𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬 (šamaššammū, “oil plant”), compound of 𒉌𒄑 (šaman, “oil”) and 𒌑 (šammum, “plant”). The modern pronunciation is perhaps influenced by (transliterations of) Greek σησάμη (sisámi). Doublet of sesamum.