spice

American  

[spahys] / spaɪs /

noun

1. any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.

2. such substances collectively or as material.

   Cookies without spice can be tasteless.

3. a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance.

4. something that gives zest.

   a spice of humor in his solemnity.

5. a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy.

   The anecdotes lent spice to her talk.

   Synonyms:

   charm , interest , zing

6. Archaic.  a small quantity of something; trace; bit.

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verb (used with object)

spiced, spicing

1. to prepare or season with a spice or spices.

2. to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added.

Trademark.

1. Spice. a brand name for a synthetic cannabis compound.

spice British  

/ spaɪs /

noun

1. 1. any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings

   2. these substances collectively

2. something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto

3. rare  a small amount

4. dialect  confectionery

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verb

1. to prepare or flavour (food) with spices

2. to introduce charm or zest into

spice Idioms  

1. see variety is the spice of life.

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Other Word Forms

• overspice verb
• respice verb (used with object)
• spiceable adjective
• spiceless adjective
• spicelike adjective
• spicer noun
• unspiced adjective
• well-spiced adjective

Etymology

Origin of spice

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English, aphetic form of Old French espice ( French épice ) from Latin speciēs “appearance, sort, kind” ( species ), in Late Latin (plural): “goods, wares, spices, drugs”; (verb) Middle English spicen, in part derivative of the noun, in part from Old French espicer, derivative of espice

Example Sentences

A seasonal salad and dollops of spiced yogurt round out plates.

From The Wall Street Journal

What pumpkin pie spices tell us about tariffs.

From MarketWatch

I order French-style beef cubes, which are chunks of meat seasoned with spices like allspice and other ingredients you would find in French food with a Vietnamese influence.

From Los Angeles Times

One stall sold slices of mangoes brought in from Jazan, the fertile southern province famous for its tropical fruits, wheat and coffee; others sold raisins, spices, nuts and gourmet honey from Yemen.

From Los Angeles Times

Its core is all plush red and dark fruit, and aromas of blackberry and spice.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• salt
• seasoning