ayahuasca

[ah-yuh-wah-skuh]

noun

1. 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.

ayahuasca

/ ˌaɪəˈwɑːskə /

noun

1. 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 History and Origins

Origin of ayahuasca¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayahuasca¹

C20: from Quechua

Example Sentences

Looking ahead at the remaining months Colbert will be on the air, Kimmel asked the host when he was going to “go nuts,” and suggested he lose his glasses and “maybe do some ayahuasca on set.”

From Los Angeles Times

Whereas in L.A. they can chill more — they have a dog, they have a hike, they can do ayahuasca, and there’s more to life than comedy.

From Los Angeles Times

But what really made Brown see himself clearly was the time he and Bathé partook in the psychedelic ayahuasca at a Costa Rica dispensary.

From Los Angeles Times

“Now the more I look at things people have created, I’m like, ‘They did ayahuasca.’”

From Los Angeles Times

“Spirit Voices” conjured an ayahuasca reverie with its thicket of guitars and hand percussion, while the sprawling and time-signature-bending “The Cool, Cool River” showed Simon the musician — not just the poet — still in absolute command.

From Los Angeles Times