Cymene

/ˈsɪmin/ noun

Definition

An organic hydrocarbon compound found in essential oils of plants like cumin and thyme, with a peppery aromatic smell.

Etymology

From cumin (the plant where it was first identified) + -ene (suffix for hydrocarbons). The compound is found in the volatile oils of Cuminum cyminum and related aromatic plants.

Kelly Says

Cymene is invisible to your eyes but very visible to your nose—it's one of the organic molecules that makes spices smell peppery and aromatic, which is why understanding chemistry helps explain why food tastes good!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.