cassia

noun

cas·​sia ˈka-shə 

1

or less commonly cassia cinnamon : the dried, aromatic bark of several tropical trees (genus Cinnamomum) that yields a reddish brown to dark brown spice sold as and used similarly to true cinnamon but having a usually stronger, more spicy character

also : the powdered spice produced from cassia bark see indonesian cinnamon

2

: any of a genus (Cassia) of leguminous herbs, shrubs, and trees of warm regions

Examples of cassia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The women in the arena threw nard and cassia and cardamom into the ring and all the remaining animals fell asleep. —Wyatt Mason, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024

Cinnamon is made from the bark of two trees: Cinnamomum verum for cinnamon sticks, and Cinnamomum cassia for ground cinnamon. —Serina Desalvio, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2023

Indian bay leaves, or tej patta or cassia bay leaves, come from the Indian cassia tree and boast citrusy and spiced notes, Cook’s Illustrated says. —Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2023

Dark, sweet cassia is typically sourced from Vietnam, Indonesia, and China and is the variety most commonly found in American supermarkets in ground or stick form. —Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin, from Greek kassia, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew qĕṣīʽāh cassia

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cassia

• Batavia cassia
• Korintje cassia

Kids Definition

cassia

noun

cas·​sia ˈkash-ə 

1

: the dried coarse bark of any of several cinnamons

2

: any of a genus of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the legume family which grow in warm regions

Medical Definition

cassia

noun

cas·​sia

ˈkash-ə, especially sense 2 ˈkas-ē-ə

1

: the dried, aromatic bark of several tropical trees of the genus Cinnamomum (such as Chinese cinnamon) that yields a reddish brown to dark brown spice sold as and used similarly to true cinnamon but having a usually stronger, more spicy character

also : the powdered spice produced from cassia bark

2

capitalized : a genus of leguminous herbs, shrubs, and trees that are native to warm regions and have pinnate leaves and nearly regular flowers see senna

3

: cassia fistula