sesame

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
2. n. The seed of this plant.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An annual herbaceous plant, Sesamum Indicum (S. orientale), widely cultivated and naturalized in tropical and subtropical countries. Its value lies chiefly in its seeds, from which is expressed the gingili-, sesame-, or til-oil. The seeds are also variously used as food. The oil in large doses is laxative, and the leaves when macerated yield a mucilaginous remedy, useful in cholera infantum, dysentery, etc. The plant is simple of culture, and thrives in sterile soil. It is somewhat grown in the southern United States. Also called benne.

Wiktionary

1. n. A tropical Asian plant Sesamum indicum bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil
2. n. The seed of this plant

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Bot.) Either of two annual herbaceous plants of the genus Sesamum (S. Indicum, and S. orientale), from the seeds of which an oil is expressed; also, the small obovate, flattish seeds of these plants, sometimes used as food. See benne.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. East Indian annual erect herb; source of sesame seed or benniseed and sesame oil