kumkum

See also: kum kum

English

Alternative forms

• kumkuma
• kunku

Etymology

From Hindi कुमकुम (kumkum) from Sanskrit कुङ्कुम (kuṅkuma).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkʊmkʊm/

Noun

kumkum (uncountable)

1. A red powder, made from saffron or turmeric, used ceremonially by Hindu women to make various markings on the body, especially the tilak.
   • 1997, Kiran Nagarkar, Cuckold, HarperCollins, published 2013, page 197:

     A maid passed her the gold thali with a lamp and kumkum and turmeric powder in it.

   • 2015, Tridip Suhrud, translating Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi, Sarasvatichandra I, Orient BlackSwan 2015, p. 134:

     Saubhagya Devi sent Alak Kishori to fetch kumkum.

Miskito

Determiner

kumkum

1. Alternative spelling of kum kum