ayahuasca

[ ah-yuh-wah-skuh ]
/ ˌɑ yəˈwɑ skə /

noun

a woody South American vine, Banisteriopsis caapi, of the malpighia family, having bark that is the source of harmine, a hallucinogenic alkaloid used by Amazon Indians.

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weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Origin of ayahuasca

From American Spanish; further origin uncertain

Words nearby ayahuasca

axseed, axum, ay, ayacucho, ayah, ayahuasca, ayana, ayande, ayatollah, ayckbourn, aycliffe
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for ayahuasca

  • They make use of a narcotic drink called Ayahuasca, which produces effects similar to those of opium.

    The Andes and the Amazon|James Orton

British Dictionary definitions for ayahuasca

ayahuasca
/ (ˌaɪəˈwɑːskə) /

noun

a Brazilian plant, Banisteriopsis caapi, that has winged fruits and yields a powerful hallucinogenic alkaloid sometimes used to treat certain disorders of the central nervous system: family Malpighiaceae

Word Origin for ayahuasca

C20: from Quechua
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012