bergamot

[ bur-guh-mot, -muh t ]
/ ˈbɜr gəˌmɒt, -mət /

noun

a small citrus tree, Citrus aurantium bergamia, having fruit with a rind that yields a fragrant essential oil.
Also called essence of bergamot. the oil or essence itself.
any of various plants of the mint family, as Monarda fistulosa, yielding an oil resembling essence of bergamot.
a variety of pear.

Origin of bergamot

1610–20; < French bergamote < Italian bergamotta < Ottoman Turkish; compare Mod Turkish bey armudlu literally, bey's pear ( bey bey + armut pear (< Persian) + -u 3rd singular possessive suffix); Italian form perhaps by association with Bergamo, Bergama, with -otta as alteration to a familiar suffix; the citrus apparently so called from its resemblance to the pear

Words nearby bergamot

berg wind, bergall, bergama, bergamasca, bergamo, bergamot, bergamot mint, bergdama, bergen, bergen-belsen, bergenfield

Definition for bergamot (2 of 2)

Bergamo 1
[ bur-guh-moh ]
/ ˈbɜr gəˌmoʊ /

noun, plural Ber·ga·mos.

a Turkish rug characterized by a long pile, floral or geometric patterns, and red-orange hues.
Also Bergama, Ber·ga·mee [bur-guh-mee] /ˈbɜr gəˌmi/, Ber·ga·mot [bur-guh-mot, -muh t] /ˈbɜr gəˌmɒt, -mət/.

Origin of Bergamo

1
after Bergama

Example sentences from the Web for bergamot

British Dictionary definitions for bergamot (1 of 2)

bergamot
/ (ˈbɜːɡəˌmɒt) /

noun

Also called: bergamot orange a small Asian spiny rutaceous tree, Citrus bergamia, having sour pear-shaped fruit
essence of bergamot a fragrant essential oil from the fruit rind of this plant, used in perfumery and some teas (including Earl Grey)
a Mediterranean mint, Mentha citrata, that yields an oil similar to essence of bergamot
  1. wild bergamot a North American plant, Monarda fistulosa, with clusters of purple flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
  2. a garden plant of the same genus, usually M. didyma (bee balm), grown for its scarlet or pink flowers
a variety of pear

Word Origin for bergamot

C17: from French bergamote, from Italian bergamotta, of Turkic origin; related to Turkish bey-armudu prince's pear; see bey

British Dictionary definitions for bergamot (2 of 2)

Bergamo
/ (Italian ˈbɛrɡamo) /

noun

a walled city in N Italy, in Lombardy. Pop: 113 143 (2001)