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• spica
  spica

  noun

  spike.
• Spica
  Spica

  noun

  the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Distance: 260 light years

spica

American  

[spahy-kuh] / ˈspaɪ kə /

noun

• spicae,
  plural
• spicas
  plural

1. spike.

2. a type of bandage in the shape of a figure eight, extending from an extremity to the trunk.

3. Astronomy. Spica, a first-magnitude star in the constellation Virgo.

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spica ¹ British  

/ ˈspaɪkə /

noun

1. med a spiral bandage formed by a series of overlapping figure-of-eight turns

2. botany another word for spike 2

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Spica ² British  

/ ˈspiːkə /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Distance: 260 light years

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Spica Scientific  

/ spī′kə /

1. A bright bluish-white binary star in the constellation Virgo, with an apparent magnitude of 0.96. Scientific name: Alpha Virginis.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spicae
  plural
• spicas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of spica

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin spīca literally, “ear of grain”; cf. spike ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spica Spica

“I like it because it’s tasty, and mostly because it’s good,” the 8-year-old said, though he rated a new roll with spica tuna he recently tried a “negative million.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

Aspic oil, from the flowers of Lavandula spica, obtained from France and Spain, and extensively employed in perfuming household and cheap toilet soaps; also frequently found as an adulterant in lavender oil.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons

The most commonly known species are L. vera, L. spica and L stæchas.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 799, April 25, 1891 by Various

The Plough faintly outlined above, and beautiful spica hanging low over Windle Flats.

From The Argosy Vol. 51, No. 4, April, 1891 by Charles W. Wood

He poured a little water from his carafe into a saucer, made a compress of lint, fastened it over the injured eye, and secured the whole with a spica bandage, secundum artem.

From Round the Red Lamp by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

“We can tell you it’s a tanker, it’s a fishing vessel, it’s a speedboat, it’s a sailing boat,” said Zack Spica, a University of Michigan assistant professor who co-founded Lumetec, which is selling the technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

On the evening of May 3, the nearly-full Moon passes just to the north of the bright star Spica.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 30, 2023

Stargazers in the Western Hemisphere will be able to enjoy the sight of Venus in conjunction with Spica on Sept. 5, according to EarthSky.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 3, 2021

After arriving at Arcturus, go down in a straight line, or as Dr. Faherty said, “Spike down from it to the star Spica, which is this beautiful blue star, very bright.”

From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2020

This may be found from the Great Bear; for if the line joining the two stars α and γ in that constellation be prolonged with a slight curve, it will conduct the eye to Spica.

From The Story of the Heavens by Sir Robert S. (Robert Stawell) Ball

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