CURCULIO Cur*cu"li*o (kr-r"l-), n.; pl. Curculios (-. Etym: [L., a grain weevil.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a large group of beetles (Rhynchophora) of many genera; — called also weevils, snout beetles, billbeetles, and billbugs. Many of the species are very destructive, as the plum curculio, the corn, grain, and rice weevils, etc.
CURCULIONIDOUS
Cur`cu*li*on"i*dous (kr`-k-l-n"-ds), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Curculionideæ, or weevil tribe.
CURCUMA Cur"cu*ma (kr"k-m), n. Etym: [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma; all fr. Ar. kurkum. Cf. Turmeric.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the order Scitamineæ, including the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). Curcuma paper. (Chem.) See Turmeric paper, under Turmeric.
CURCUMIN
Cur"cu*min (-mn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: The coloring principle of turmeric, or curcuma root, extracted as an orange yellow crystalline substance, C14H14O4, with a green fluorescence.
Note: It possesses acid properties and with alkalies forms brownish salts. This change in color from yellow to brown is the characteristic reaction of tumeric paper. See Turmeric paper, under Turmeric.
CURD Curd (krd), n. Etym: [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. gruth, Ir, gruth, cruth, curd, cruthaim I milk.] [Sometimes written crud.]