anise

American  

[an-is] / ˈæn ɪs /

noun

1. a Mediterranean plant, Pimpinella anisum, of the parsley family, having loose umbrels of small yellowish-white flowers that yield aniseed.

2. aniseed.

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anise British  

/ ˈænɪs /

noun

1. a Mediterranean umbelliferous plant, Pimpinella anisum, having clusters of small yellowish-white flowers and liquorice-flavoured seeds See aniseed

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Other Word Forms

• anisic adjective

Etymology

Origin of anise

1350–1400; Middle English anis < Old French < Latin anīsum < Greek ánīson

Example Sentences

You can also infuse your espresso with star anise to make a non-alcoholic Sambuca or amp up the sweetness by scraping in a whole vanilla bean.

From Salon

This one plays in high notes: the citrus lifts, the fennel gives a soft anise hum, and the sugar teases out the squash’s own mellow sweetness.

From Salon

Tarragon has a subtle anise, fennel-like flavor, and its leaves are slender and softer than other herbs.

From Salon

Raw, it has a crisp bite, with a licorice flavor that is somewhere between anise and the effervescence of a lemon-lime soda: refreshing, cool, neutralizing.

From Salon

Timothy Sharp, manager of Sparrow Coffee House in Cardiff, makes his own homemade syrup, adding spices like cloves, cardamom and star anise to the core PSL ingredients of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

From BBC