ayahuasca

American  

[ah-yuh-wah-skuh] / ˌɑ yəˈwɑ skə /

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.

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ayahuasca British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of ayahuasca

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

Example Sentences

They speak their own language, take ayahuasca to connect with forest spirits and trap spider monkeys to make soup or keep as pets.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2024

From the truth about her mysterious marriage to suicidal thoughts, a kiss with Tupac and the joys of ayahuasca, here are the worthiest revelations from “Worthy.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2023

Over thousands of years, Indigenous communities have cultivated relationships with and accumulated knowledge on psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms, the Amazonian botanical brew ayahuasca, and the West African shrub iboga.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 22, 2023

Citing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a New Mexico church won the right to use ayahuasca as a sacrament.

From Washington Times • Feb. 2, 2023

The roots of ayahuasca go back hundreds of years to ceremonial use by Indigenous groups in the Amazon.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2023