Illustration of sesame
- sesame 1
sesame
noun
ses·a·me ˈse-sə-mē 
also
ˈse-zə- 1
: a widely cultivated chiefly tropical or subtropical annual erect herb (Sesamum indicum of the family Pedaliaceae)
also : its small seeds used especially as a source of oil and a flavoring agent
2
: open sesame
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Both versions arrive with two thick, crisped slices of challah crusted with black and white sesame seeds. 
Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 It's topped with an orange drizzle of gochujang and sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using, and toss again. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 Eric seasons chickpeas with salty, nutty roasted seaweed and a sesame mayonnaise. New York Times, 20 July 2022 After a long day of typing, driving, washing, and doing chores, slather your hands with Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, which is formulated with glycerin, olive oil, shea butter, and sesame seed oil to intensely hydrate and soothe skin. Sarah Han, Allure, 18 July 2022 Crunchy sesame rice crackers act as both your vessel and utensil, making this a great finger food with a contrast in both textures and flavors. Christina Liao, Vogue, 8 July 2022 The final coating helps sesame seeds or scallions — or both — adhere to the chicken. Christopher Kimball, USA TODAY, 3 June 2022 Then the rounds are shaped by hand, imprinted with a decorative pattern, and sprinkled with water and sesame seeds before going into the tandoor, or clay oven. Shefali Rafiq, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 May 2022 See More
Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 It's topped with an orange drizzle of gochujang and sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using, and toss again. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 Eric seasons chickpeas with salty, nutty roasted seaweed and a sesame mayonnaise. New York Times, 20 July 2022 After a long day of typing, driving, washing, and doing chores, slather your hands with Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, which is formulated with glycerin, olive oil, shea butter, and sesame seed oil to intensely hydrate and soothe skin. Sarah Han, Allure, 18 July 2022 Crunchy sesame rice crackers act as both your vessel and utensil, making this a great finger food with a contrast in both textures and flavors. Christina Liao, Vogue, 8 July 2022 The final coating helps sesame seeds or scallions — or both — adhere to the chicken. Christopher Kimball, USA TODAY, 3 June 2022 Then the rounds are shaped by hand, imprinted with a decorative pattern, and sprinkled with water and sesame seeds before going into the tandoor, or clay oven. Shefali Rafiq, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
alteration of earlier sesam, sesama, from Latin sesamum, sesama, from Greek sēsamon, sēsamē, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian šamaššamu sesame
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing sesame
Medical Definition
sesame
noun
ses·a·me
ˈses-ə-mē also ˈsez-
: a widely cultivated annual erect herb (Sesamum indicum synonym S. orientale of the family Pedaliaceae)
also : its small somewhat flat seeds used as a source of sesame oil and a flavoring agent