From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Turmeric \Tur"mer*ic\, noun [F. terre-m['e]rite, NL. terramerita, turmerica; apparently meaning, excellent earth, but perhaps a corruption of Ar. kurkum. Cf. {Curcuma}.]
1. (Bot.) An East Indian plant of the genus {Curcuma}, of the Ginger family.
2. The root or rootstock of the {Curcuma longa}. It is externally grayish, but internally of a deep, lively yellow or saffron color, and has a slight aromatic smell, and a bitterish, slightly acrid taste. It is used for a dye, a medicine, a condiment, and a chemical test.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Turmeric \Tur"mer*ic\, adjective (Chem.) Of or pertaining to turmeric; resembling, or obtained from, turmeric; specif., designating an acid obtained by the oxidation of turmerol.
{Turmeric paper} (Chem.), paper impregnated with turmeric and used as a test for alkaline substances, by which it is changed from yellow to brown.
{Turmeric root}. (Bot.) (a) Bloodroot. (b) Orangeroot.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Bloodroot \Blood"root'\, noun (Bot.) A plant ({Sanguinaria Canadensis}), with a red root and red sap, and bearing a pretty, white flower in early spring; -- called also {puccoon}, {redroot}, {bloodwort}, {tetterwort}, {turmeric}, and {Indian paint}. It has acrid emetic properties, and the rootstock is used as a stimulant expectorant. See {Sanguinaria}.
Note: In England the name is given to the tormentil, once used as a remedy for dysentery.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: widely cultivated tropical plant of India having yellow flowers and a large aromatic deep yellow rhizome; source of a condiment and a yellow dye [syn: {Curcuma longa}, {Curcuma domestica}]
2: ground dried rhizome of the turmeric plant used as seasoning
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