Quranic root
كمم
k · m · m
The root centers on a covering or sheath that encloses and protects something.
This covering principle extends to botanical envelopes, a sleeve or head-covering, and the derived state of being covered or concealed. The Quranic plural أَكْمَام refers to such botanical coverings.
- Maqāyīs · row 4029
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
كِمٌّ
kimmun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A covering or sheath enclosing a fruit, flower, or date-palm inflorescence.
The Quranic form occurs as the plural أَكْمَام and refers to the enclosing coverings of date palms and their fruit or flowers; translations such as “coverings” and “sheaths” reflect this context.
- Lane · entry 32939
- Mufradāt · row 1267
Selected Quran examples
Quran 41:47word 10
“their coverings”
Quran 55:11word 5
“sheaths”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 6 Classical meanings
كَمْ
An interrogative word asking “how many?” or, by extension, “how much?” and “how long?” when an amount or period is understood.
It may also occur in a declarative construction indicating a large number; the noun used to specify the quantity varies in grammatical case according to the construction.
- Lane · entry 32937
- Mufradāt · row 1267
كُمٌّ
The sleeve of a shirt, the part that covers the hand or arm.
- Mufradāt · row 1267
- Maqāyīs · row 4029
كُمَّةٌ
A cap or rounded skullcap covering the head.
- Lane · entry 32940
- Mufradāt · row 1267
كَمِّيَّةٌ
A quantity or amount, especially as an answer to “how many?”
- Lane · entry 32942
مُكَمَّمٌ
Covered over or concealed.
- Lane · entry 32943
كَمْكَامٌ
The cancamum tree, a named botanical tree.
- Lane · entry 32944
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic group أَكْمَام is normalized to the plant-covering noun كِمٌّ; the separately attested homographic interrogative كَمْ is retained as a distinct Classical Arabic entry.