sesame

Everyday

1. A plant grown in warm countries for its small flat seeds. tree →
2. The tiny cream or black seeds of that plant, eaten on bread and in food and pressed to make sesame oil. tree →
3. «Open sesame!» — the magic words that open the robbers' cave in the story «Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves»; jokingly, any easy way to get something you want. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life sesame seeds sit on burger buns, bagels and in tahini and hummus; on food labels sesame is listed as an allergen, so safety lessons teach pupils to read labels if a friend is allergic. In stories «Open sesame!» opens magic doors; people say it jokingly when a door opens by itself or when a good grade is «an open sesame» to a good school.

Examples

• My burger bun is covered in sesame seeds. tree →
• Hummus is made with chickpeas and tahini, a sesame paste. tree →
• Ella is allergic to sesame, so we check the labels. tree →
• Grandma fries the vegetables in sesame oil. tree →
• Ali Baba said "Open sesame!" and the rock door slid open. tree →
• The automatic door opened and Leo shouted, "Open sesame!" tree →
• Black sesame seeds are used in some Chinese desserts. tree →
• The bakery's sesame bagels sell out first. tree →
• He said: “Open, Sesame!” and the door opened and shut behind him. tree →

Note

Say «SESS-uh-mee» (three syllables). Uncountable as food (some sesame), countable as seeds (sesame seeds). Sesame is one of the main food allergens in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; an allergic person must avoid even tiny amounts.