spicy

or spice·y

[ spahy-see ]
See synonyms for: spicyspiciness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,spic·i·er, spic·i·est.
  1. seasoned with or containing spice: a spicy salad dressing.

  2. characteristic or suggestive of spice.

  1. of the nature of or resembling spice.

  2. abounding in or yielding spices.

  3. aromatic or fragrant.

  4. piquant or pungent: spicy criticism.

  5. of a slightly improper or risqué nature; somewhat sexy: a spicy novel.

  6. Informal. full of spirit; lively.

Origin of spicy

1
First recorded in 1555–65; spice + -y1

Other words for spicy

Other words from spicy

  • spic·i·ly, adverb
  • spic·i·ness, noun
  • un·spic·i·ly, adverb
  • un·spic·i·ness, noun
  • un·spic·y, adjective

Words Nearby spicy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use spicy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spicy

spicy

/ (ˈspaɪsɪ) /


adjectivespicier or spiciest
  1. seasoned with or containing spice

  2. highly flavoured; pungent

  1. informal suggestive of scandal or sensation

  2. producing or yielding spices

Derived forms of spicy

  • spicily, adverb
  • spiciness, noun

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