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spicebush

American  
[spahys-boosh] / ˈspaɪsˌbʊʃ /

noun

  1. Also called spice-wood. a yellow-flowered, North American shrub, Lindera benzoin, of the laurel family, whose bark and leaves have a spicy odor.

  2. a North American shrub, Calycanthus occidentalis, having oblong leaves and fragrant, light-brown flowers.


spicebush British  
/ ˈspaɪsˌbʊʃ /

noun

  1. a North American lauraceous shrub, Lindera benzoin, having yellow flowers and aromatic leaves and bark

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spicebush

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70; spice + bush 1


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:

Scientists recently discovered that two plants, the giant goldenrod and spicebush, each make five different compounds that disrupt the life cycles of insect pests.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Pearce showed me many spicebush specimens that were browsed but are now suckering afresh.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 14, 2021

Invasive species like English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, Norway maples and sycamore maples will be replaced with black oak, dogwood, spicebush and native ferns.

From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2017

Related and affected trees include avocado, sassafras, northern spicebush and at least two endangered plants: pondberry and pond spice, Riggins said.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 8, 2017

The sunlight filters through lacy hemlock needles and we stretch out on our backs, chewing the tasty twigs of a spicebush and silently admiring the forest.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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