cinnamon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the aromatic brown bark of a tropical Asian tree, used whole or ground as a spice

   She stirred cinnamon into the warm apple mixture.

2. 2
   noun

   an evergreen tropical tree of the genus Cinnamomum whose bark yields cinnamon

   A young cinnamon grew beside the pepper and clove trees in the garden.

3. 3
   adj

   having a warm yellowish-brown color like ground cinnamon

   The bird has a cinnamon breast and dark brown wings.

From Middle English synamome, through Old French and Latin cinnamomum from Greek kinnamomon. The Greek word was itself borrowed from a Semitic source related to Hebrew qinnamon. English names both the aromatic bark and the tropical trees that produce it, and later extended the spice's color name adjectivally.

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