cinnamon

/ˈsɪnəmən/

/ˈsɪnɛmən/

Other forms: cinnamons

Cinnamon is a flavorful spice that comes from the bark of a tree. The tropical tree that produces the spice is also called cinnamon.

Cinnamon is a common spice in sweet baked goods like cinnamon rolls and coffee cake. It's also used in savory dishes, particularly in Middle Eastern and North African cuisine. While most people are familiar with the dark reddish-brown ground cinnamon you can shake on your cinnamon toast, it also comes in the form of a short, rolled stick. The Latin source is cinnamum, which was once a term of endearment, as well as the name of the spice.

Definitions of cinnamon

1. noun

   tropical Asian tree with aromatic yellowish-brown bark; source of the spice cinnamon
   synonyms: Ceylon cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon tree, Cinnamomum zeylanicum

   type of:

   laurel

   any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
2. noun

   spice from the dried aromatic bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree; used as rolled strips or ground
   types:

   stick cinnamon

   dried rolled strips of cinnamon bark

   type of:

   spice

   any of a variety of pungent aromatic vegetable substances used for flavoring food
3. noun

   aromatic bark used as a spice
   synonyms: cinnamon bark

   type of:

   bark

   tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants