licorice

especially British, liq·uo·rice

[lik-er-ish, lik-rish, lik-uh-ris]

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, of the legume family.

2. the sweet-tasting, dried root of this plant or an extract made from it, used in medicine, confectionery, etc.

3. a candy flavored with licorice root.

4. any of various related or similar plants.

licorice

/ ˈlɪkərɪs /

noun

1. the usual US and Canadian spelling of liquorice

Word History and Origins

Origin of licorice¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English lycorys, from Anglo-French, from unattested Vulgar Latin liquiritia for Latin glycyrrhiza, from Greek glykýrrhiza “sweetroot (plant),” equivalent to glyký(s) “sweet” + rhíza “root”; root ¹, -ia

Example Sentences

The children wondered if she might have snuck up to her room on the fourth floor, to read for a bit while nibbling on a piece of licorice.

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But apparently it is a rubbery substance that has licorice or other flavoring.

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He has told personal stories about Rite Aid, Zips Car Wash and Cineworld, where he talked of enjoying Mountain Dew slush and red licorice while watching “Top Gun Maverick.”

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The tonka bean’s robust scent comes from the presence of coumarin, a naturally occurring organic compound that’s also found in Cassia cinnamon and some licorice roots.

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There was a popular brand of licorice called “Little African,” with packaging that featured a cartoon alligator tugging playfully at a Black infant’s rag diaper.

Read more on Los Angeles Times