ayahuasca

[ ah-yuh-wah-skuh ]

/ ˌɑ yəˈwɑ skə /

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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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Origin of ayahuasca

From Latin American Spanish (Ecuador, Peru); from Quechua aya “dead” + huasca “rope”

Words nearby ayahuasca

ax to grind, Axum, ay, Ayacucho, ayah, ayahuasca, Ayana, Ayande, ayatollah, Ayckbourn, Aycliffe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ayahuasca in a sentence

It’s not just the meditation retreats and ayahuasca shamans.
The Spiritual Consciousness of Christof Koch - Issue 107: The Edge|Steve Paulson|October 13, 2021|Nautilus
A 1,000 year-old stash found in Bolivia contained cocaine, Anadenanthera and ayahuasca—and must’ve been one hell of a trip.
When Did Humans Start Experimenting With Alcohol and Drugs?|Nicholas R. Longrich|September 26, 2021|Singularity Hub
The sprawling market there offers everything from fresh fish caught by local villagers to insect larvae and even bottled ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew popular in this part of the world.
The Most Stunning Places on the Globe|Josefina Salomon|August 8, 2021|Ozy
Ayahuasca/yagé is a psychoactive brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine.
Spirit Tripping With Colombian Shamans|Chris Allbritton|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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