spica
noun
spica
American
[spahy-kuh]
/ ˈspaɪ kə /
noun
-
spicae,
plural
-
spicas
plural
-
a type of bandage in the shape of a figure eight, extending from an extremity to the trunk.
-
Astronomy. Spica, a first-magnitude star in the constellation Virgo.
spica
1
British
/ ˈspaɪkə /
noun
-
med a spiral bandage formed by a series of overlapping figure-of-eight turns
-
botany another word for spike 2
Spica
2
British
/ ˈspiːkə /
noun
Spica
Scientific
/ spī′kə /
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of spica
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin spīca literally, “ear of grain”; cf. spike 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I like it because it’s tasty, and mostly because it’s good,” the 8-year-old said, though he rated a new roll with spica tuna he recently tried a “negative million.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
Aspic oil, from the flowers of Lavandula spica, obtained from France and Spain, and extensively employed in perfuming household and cheap toilet soaps; also frequently found as an adulterant in lavender oil.
From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons
In the south of France, whether the oil be distilled from the flowers of the Lavandula vera or Lavandula spica, it is named oil of lavender.
From The Art of Perfumery And Methods of Obtaining the Odors of Plants by George William Septimus Piesse
Spike.—French oil of lavender, which is procured from the Lavandula spica, is generally called oil of spike.
From The Art of Perfumery And Methods of Obtaining the Odors of Plants by George William Septimus Piesse
He poured a little water from his carafe into a saucer, made a compress of lint, fastened it over the injured eye, and secured the whole with a spica bandage, secundum artem.
From Round the Red Lamp by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
“We can tell you it’s a tanker, it’s a fishing vessel, it’s a speedboat, it’s a sailing boat,” said Zack Spica, a University of Michigan assistant professor who co-founded Lumetec, which is selling the technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
Stargazers in the Western Hemisphere will be able to enjoy the sight of Venus in conjunction with Spica on Sept. 5, according to EarthSky.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 3, 2021
Arcturus is in the constellation Boötes and Spica is in Virgo, so you’ve now found two additional constellations.
From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2020
Before daybreak, in the west southwestern sky, find Spica to Jupiter’s left.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2017
Outside in the darkness Thor turned once more to where the Virgin, recumbent, noble, outlined and crowned with stars, Spica the wheat-ear in the hand hanging by her side, rose slowly toward mid-heaven.
From The Side Of The Angels A Novel by Basil King
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
