East Indian annual erect herb; source of sesame seed or benniseed and sesame oil
"The farmer harvested the sesame crop from his field to press fresh oil for cooking."
A tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
"Farmers in India harvest sesame from the tall, leafy plants growing in their fields to press them into cooking oil."
In plain English: Sesame is an oilseed plant that grows small black and white seeds used to make cooking oil and flavor food.
"The baker sprinkled sesame seeds on top of the bagels before putting them in the oven."
Usage: Use this word to refer specifically to the edible seed or the oil derived from it, rather than using it metaphorically for something trivial unless that is your intended meaning. It often appears in phrases like "sesame street" where it symbolizes easy access due to its historical association with opening doors.
From late Middle English sisamie, from Latin sīsamum, sēsamum, from Ancient Greek σήσαμον (sḗsamon), from Aramaic שושמא (šūššmā), shortening of שומשומא (šumššumā), from Akkadian 𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬 (šamaššammū, "oil plant"), compound of 𒉌𒄑 (šaman, "oil") and 𒌑 (šammum, "plant"). The modern pronunciation is perhaps influenced by (transliterations of) Greek σησάμη (sisámi). Doublet of sesamum.