spearmint

American  

[speer-mint] / ˈspɪərˌmɪnt /

noun

1. an aromatic herb, Mentha spicata, having lance-shaped leaves used for flavoring.

---

spearmint British  

/ ˈspɪəmɪnt /

noun

1. a purple-flowered mint plant, Mentha spicata, of S and central Europe, cultivated for its leaves, which yield an oil used for flavouring

---

Etymology

Origin of spearmint

First recorded in 1530–40; spear ¹ + mint ¹

Example Sentences

For a bargain option, check out Trader Joe's Well Rested Herbal Tea, which touts chamomile, spearmint, peppermint, blackberry leaves, and rosebuds.

From Salon

Menthol is a naturally occurring cyclic monoterpene alcohol found in various plants, particularly in members of the mint family such as peppermint and spearmint.

From Science Daily

In the next few days he discovered additional sources of nourishment: groundnuts, mulberries, wild mustard, wild onions, new kinds of mushrooms, spearmint, peppermint, and milkweed.

From Literature

It actually turns out that beta-ionone is in a bunch of things—such as tobacco, grapes, orange juice, papaya, peaches, raspberries, spearmint and tea.

From Scientific American

Attached to a vertical glass slab, these globs — spearmint green, bubble gum pink, cherry red, Winterfresh blue — form an abstract collage that may look familiar to some.

From Seattle Times