Triticums

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of plants within the grass family typically known for producing wheat, including varieties such as durum and bread wheat
2. Referring to a group of cereal grasses that yield grains essential for human consumption, particularly in flour production
3. Denoting a category of agricultural crops that are cultivated primarily for their seeds, which are staple foods in many cultures

Etymology: "Triticums" is the plural of "triticum", the Latin name for wheat, so the plural form refers to several kinds of wheat or wheat-type grasses. The Latin "triticum" was itself a learned borrowing into English, so it reached English through scholarly and scientific writing rather than everyday speech. Its roots lie in Latin "tritus", meaning "rubbed" or "threshed", a nod to the process of separating grain from husk.

Synonyms: wheats