Buckwheat

/ˈbʌk.wiːt/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A plant (Fagopyrum esculentum) with seeds that are used as a grain-like food and for making flour.
She prepared a delicious buckwheat pancake for breakfast.
The seeds of the buckwheat plant, often used as a gluten-free alternative in various dishes.
Buckwheat is a popular ingredient in many gluten-free recipes.
A crop cultivated for its seeds, which are rich in nutrients and often used as animal feed.
Farmers are increasingly planting buckwheat for its soil benefits and as a cover crop.
A cereal grain that is not a true cereal but is used similarly in cooking.
The salad included roasted vegetables and a base of flavorful buckwheat.

Etymology

From Middle English bokewheat, meaning 'beech wheat' referring to its triangular seeds resembling those of beech trees.

Common Phrases and Expressions

buckwheat pancakes
Pancakes made from buckwheat flour, often gluten-free.
buckwheat groats
The hulled seeds of buckwheat that can be cooked and eaten.
buckwheat honey
A dark, strong honey made from the nectar of buckwheat flowers.

Related Words

kasha
A dish made from buckwheat groats, often cooked in water or broth.
groats
The hulled kernels of various grains, including buckwheat.

Slang Meanings

A term used in some contexts to describe something unusual or odd.
That outfit is a bit buckwheat!