sumac
sumac Lexical Profile
sumac Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A tangy, lemony, burgundy-colored culinary spice made from the dried and coarsely ground berries of the tanner's sumac (Rhus coriaria), widely used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine to season meats, salads, and spice blends such as za'atar.
"The chef sprinkled bright red sumac over the hummus and grilled lamb to add a lively citrusy tartness."
Any of various deciduous shrubs or small trees of the genus Rhus in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae), native to temperate and subtropical regions worldwide and cultivated for their pinnate foliage that turns brilliant red in autumn, dense upright panicles of small greenish-white to yellowish blossoms, and fuzzy crimson fruiting clusters.
"Staghorn sumac grows along the edge of the woodland, displaying upright cone-shaped clusters of small blossoms in early summer before turning scarlet in the fall."
The small, tart, deep red berry-like drupe produced in dense conical clusters by certain species of the genus Rhus, harvested for culinary seasoning and traditional acidic beverages.
"Foragers steeped the fuzzy red sumac berries in cold water to prepare a tart, lemonade-like drink."
A dried preparation of the tannin-rich leaves and shoots of certain sumac plants, used commercially in tanning fine leather and dyeing fabrics.
"Traditional tanneries steeped powdered sumac in vats to cure soft morocco leather and impart a pale, durable finish."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse culinary sumac (principally from Rhus coriaria) with poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix), a related North American swamp shrub that contains urushiol and causes severe contact dermatitis.
• Rhymes for sumac
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English via Old French and Medieval Latin from Arabic summāq, which ultimately derives from a Semitic root meaning 'red', in reference to the deep crimson color of the ripe berries.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.