keema

K5E1E1M3A1
/kiːmə/

noun

Finely chopped mince as used in South Asia cookery, typically lamb with peas or potatoes and spices, sometimes used as a filling in samosas or naan.

OriginUrdu قیمہ ← Persian قیمه ← Turkic →
First used 20th c.Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nounkeema (countable and uncountable, plural keemas)

plural keemas · alternative kheema · alternative qeema

  1. South AsiacountableuncountableFinely chopped mince as used in South Asia cookery, typically lamb with peas or potatoes and spices, sometimes used as a filling in samosas or naan.First known use 20th c.

    I picked up a samosa and took a bite. It was to die for. Crispy and warm, with succulent qeema and just the right amount of matar and aloo.

    2023, Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, The Centre, Picador, page 84

Origin

  1. Turkic
  2. Persianقیمه
  3. Urduقیمہ
  4. Englishkeema

From Urdu قیمہ, from Persian قیمه (qime), from Turkic, perhaps Ottoman Turkish قیمه (kıyma), whence Turkish kıyma. Doublet of gheimeh, an Iranian meat stew.

More words from Urdu, Persian, Turkic

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Akeem
Cite this entry
APA

keema. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keema

MLA

“keema.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keema. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keema,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keema.

Source: keema on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.