sumac
noun
su·mac ˈshü-ˌmak 
ˈsü-
variants or less commonly sumach
1
: any of a genus (Rhus) of trees, shrubs, and woody vines of the cashew family that have leaves turning to brilliant colors in the autumn, small usually dioecious flowers, and spikes or loose clusters of red or whitish berries compare poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac
2
: a material used in tanning and dyeing that consists of dried powdered leaves and flowers of various sumacs
3
: the tart dried and ground red berries of several sumacs (such as Rhus coriaria) used as a spice especially in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The flesh is juicy and densely seasoned with sumac, giving it a tangy citrus flavor. 
Jenn Harriscolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 Season with salt and a generous sprinkling of sumac. Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Drizzle with more olive oil; sprinkle with a pinch of sumac and reserved herbs. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Everything was green, green, green, except for a sprinkle of deep-red sumac here and there, following no plan. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Among the plants to consider are ferns, Solomon’s seal, bleeding heart, lungwort, Virginia bluebells, hostas, hellebores, bishop’s hat, St. John’s wort, fragrant sumac and bottlebrush buckeye. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022 Lidbeck-Brent contrasted the solid forms of the sunflowers with the black pods of Baptisia, long thin okra pods, yucca, oak leaves, a dark red sumac plume, an evening primrose seed stalk, Scabiosa, and hibiscus pods. Penelope O'sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2022 The sumac brightens up the semifreddo by offering tart, sweet, floral notes. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 5 Aug. 2022 Our neighbor’s sumac grows a few feet from the fence that divides our properties. oregonlive, 12 June 2022 See More
Jenn Harriscolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 Season with salt and a generous sprinkling of sumac. Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Drizzle with more olive oil; sprinkle with a pinch of sumac and reserved herbs. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Everything was green, green, green, except for a sprinkle of deep-red sumac here and there, following no plan. Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Among the plants to consider are ferns, Solomon’s seal, bleeding heart, lungwort, Virginia bluebells, hostas, hellebores, bishop’s hat, St. John’s wort, fragrant sumac and bottlebrush buckeye. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022 Lidbeck-Brent contrasted the solid forms of the sunflowers with the black pods of Baptisia, long thin okra pods, yucca, oak leaves, a dark red sumac plume, an evening primrose seed stalk, Scabiosa, and hibiscus pods. Penelope O'sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2022 The sumac brightens up the semifreddo by offering tart, sweet, floral notes. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 5 Aug. 2022 Our neighbor’s sumac grows a few feet from the fence that divides our properties. oregonlive, 12 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English sumac, from Anglo-French, ultimately from Arabic summāq
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing sumac
Kids Definition
sumac
noun
su·mac
variants also sumach
ˈshü-ˌmak,
ˈsü-
: a tree, shrub, or woody vine that has leaves with many leaflets and loose clusters of red or white berries
Medical Definition
sumac
noun
su·mac
variants also sumach
ˈsü-ˌmak ˈshü-
ˈshü- : any of various plants of the genus Rhus including several (as poison sumac) having foliage poisonous to the touch compare poison ivy, poison oak