ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cinnamon

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈsɪnəmən// UK //sˈɪnəmən// cin·na·mon

n. a sweet-smelling spice made from the bark of a tropical tree. You usually find it as a brown powder or in small rolled sticks for cooking and baking.

n. an aromatic spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus Cinnamomum. Used primarily as a condiment and flavouring base in both sweet and savoury cuisine.


SIMPLE

I like to sprinkle cinnamon on my morning oatmeal.

CONTEXTUAL

The recipe calls for a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to give the apple pie its classic warm flavour.

COMPLEX

Historically prized as a luxury good, cinnamon was once so valuable that it served as a symbol of status among the elite in ancient societies.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the spice generally; countable when referring to the sticks ('two cinnamons' is rare, 'two cinnamon sticks' is preferred).

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