sumac
sumac Lexical Profile
sumac Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various shrubs or small trees of the cashew family (genus Rhus and related genera), native to temperate and subtropical regions, typically characterized by compound leaves and dense, conical clusters of small red or white fruits.
"During our autumn hike, we admired the brilliant red foliage of the staghorn sumac growing along the edge of the forest."
A tangy, crimson-colored spice made from the dried and coarsely ground berries of certain sumac shrubs, widely used to add acidity and flavor to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.
"She sprinkled a generous pinch of sumac over the hummus and warm pita bread to give it a bright, lemony flavor."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the red berries of many sumac species are edible and harvested for culinary spice, they are often confused with 'poison sumac,' a highly toxic plant identifiable by its white berries.
• Rhymes for sumac
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'sumac', via Medieval Latin from Arabic 'summāq', tracing back to the Syriac word 'summāqā', meaning 'red'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.