cinnamon

IPA/ˈsɪnəmən/
KK[sˈɪnəmən]IPA/ˈsɪnəmən/

cinnamon — noun

1. a brown powder or rolled strips of dried bark from a tropical tree, used to give

1.nounB1
Definition

a brown powder or rolled strips of dried bark from a tropical tree, used to give a warm, sweet flavour to food and drinks

Example

Mei-Lin sprinkled cinnamon on her morning oatmeal for extra warmth.

collocation: sprinkle cinnamon on [food]

The bakery's cinnamon rolls filled the street with a sweet, spicy aroma.

cinnamon + noun (as modifier)

Common collocations
  • sprinkle cinnamon
  • ground cinnamon
  • cinnamon stick
  • cinnamon powder
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • sweet cinnamon flavour
Synonyms
  • cassia

    a less expensive type of cinnamon often sold simply as 'cinnamon'; has a stronger, less subtle flavour than true cinnamon (Ceylon cinnamon)

Grammar Patterns

cinnamon + noun (as modifier: cinnamon roll, cinnamon powder)

ground cinnamon

cinnamon stick

Usage Note

Cinnamon is usually uncountable when referring to the spice in general (e.g. 'a teaspoon of cinnamon'). It becomes countable only when referring to specific types ('the Ceylon cinnamons and the cassia cinnamons differ in flavour') or to individual sticks ('add two cinnamons to the pot').

Common Mistakes

I added a cinnamon to the cake.
I added some cinnamon to the cake.
As a spice, cinnamon is almost always uncountable; use 'some' or 'a pinch of' rather than 'a'.

2. a tropical tree in the genus Cinnamomum, valued for its dried bark which is grou

2.nounB2
Definition

a tropical tree in the genus Cinnamomum, valued for its dried bark which is ground or sold in strips as the spice

Example

Cinnamon trees grow best in the tropical climates of Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

geographic habitat of cinnamon trees

Workers carefully peel the inner bark from cinnamon trees during the rainy season.

Common collocations
  • cinnamon tree
  • Ceylon cinnamon
  • cinnamon bark
  • cinnamon harvest
  • cinnamon plantation
  • cinnamon growing regions
Synonyms
  • cinnamomum

    the scientific genus name, used in botanical or technical contexts

  • cassia tree

    a related tree (Cinnamomum cassia) whose bark is sold as cinnamon, though technically a different species

Grammar Patterns

cinnamon tree

[species] cinnamon (e.g. Ceylon cinnamon, Indonesian cinnamon)

Usage Note

This sense is less common in everyday conversation. Most learners will encounter cinnamon as a spice (Sense 1) far more often. Use 'cinnamon tree' or the scientific name 'Cinnamomum' when the botanical meaning is needed.

Common Mistakes

A cinnamon is a tropical tree.
A cinnamon tree is a tropical tree.
Ambiguous use of 'cinnamon' alone to mean the tree is uncommon; always include 'tree' for clarity.

Word family

  • cinnamaldehyde
    nounC2
  • cinnamic
    adjectiveC2
  • cassia
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cinnamon, cassia, nutmeg, and allspice are all warm, sweet spices used in baking and desserts, but each comes from a different plant and has a distinct flavour profile. Cinnamon (especially Ceylon cinnamon) has a delicate, woody sweetness with citrus notes. Cassia, often sold simply as 'cinnamon' in supermarkets, is stronger, more bitter, and darker in colour — it comes from a related but different tree (Cinnamomum cassia). Nutmeg is ground from the seed of the nutmeg tree and has a pungent, nutty warmth. Allspice comes from dried unripe berries of the Pimenta dioica tree and tastes like a blend of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. In recipes, these spices are not always interchangeable: cinnamon is the default for cinnamon rolls and apple desserts, while allspice shines in Caribbean jerk seasoning and pumpkin pies.

cinnamon ↗cassianutmegallspice

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cinnamon bark
  • cinnamon powder
  • cinnamon stick
  • cinnamon roll
  • cinnamon tree

Phrases

  • ground cinnamon
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • cinnamon-flavoured
  • cinnamon-coloured

Etymology

SemiticGreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Cinnamon entered English through Old French 'cinnamone', from Latin 'cinnamum' or 'cinnamomum', which was borrowed from Greek 'kinnamomon'. The Greek word likely came from a Semitic source, possibly Phoenician, reflecting the spice's ancient trade route from South and Southeast Asia to the Mediterranean.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a