thyme

/taɪm/

/taɪm/

Other forms: thymes

Thyme is a plant that's used for cooking and smells great too. If you're an aspiring chef, you're probably very familiar with herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano.

Thyme is a common ingredient in many culinary traditions, including French and Middle Eastern food. In ancient Greece, thyme was believed to inspire courage, and it was commonly burned as incense and used in ritual baths. Before antibiotics were discovered, thyme oil was often used as an antiseptic (and the germ-killing mouthwash Listerine still includes thyme in its ingredients). The root of thyme means "rise in a cloud," a possible reference to its strong scent.

Definitions of thyme

1. noun

   any of various mints of the genus Thymus
   types:

   Thymus vulgaris, common thyme

   common aromatic garden perennial native to the western Mediterranean; used in seasonings and formerly as medicine

   Thymus serpyllum, creeping thyme, wild thyme

   aromatic dwarf shrub common on banks and hillsides in Europe; naturalized in United States

   type of:

   herb, herbaceous plant

   a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
2. noun

   leaves can be used as seasoning for almost any meat and stews and stuffings and vegetables
   type of:

   herb

   aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities