black cardamom or black cardamonn.1. Any of several plants of the genus Amomum of tropical Asia, especially A. costatum or A. subulatum, having ridged capsular fruits with aromatic seeds that are often dried and smoked and used as a spice.2. The capsules or seeds of any of these plants, used especially in South and Southeast Asian cuisine to flavor savory dishes.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.