The Collaborative International Dictionary
Curcuma \Cur"cu*ma\ (k?r"k?-m?), n. [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma; all fr. Ar. kurkum. Cf. Turmeric.] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the order Scitamine[ae], including the turmeric plant ( Curcuma longa).
Curcuma paper. (Chem.) See Turmeric paper, under Turmeric.
Turmeric \Tur"mer*ic\, n. [F. terre-m['e]rite, NL. terramerita, turmerica; apparently meaning, excellent earth, but perhaps a corruption of Ar. kurkum. Cf. Curcuma.]
(Bot.) An East Indian plant of the genus Curcuma, of the Ginger family.
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.