spice
Americannoun
-
any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.
-
such substances collectively or as material.
Cookies without spice can be tasteless.
-
a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance.
-
something that gives zest.
a spice of humor in his solemnity.
-
a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy.
The anecdotes lent spice to her talk.
-
Archaic. a small quantity of something; trace; bit.
verb (used with object)
-
to prepare or season with a spice or spices.
-
to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added.
noun
-
-
any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings
-
these substances collectively
-
-
something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto
-
rare a small amount
-
dialect confectionery
verb
-
to prepare or flavour (food) with spices
-
to introduce charm or zest into
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Or, is it simply opening a box of mac & cheese and zhuzh-ing it up with a few spices?
From Salon
An almost aggressively spiced medley: Italian breadcrumbs, Old Bay, thyme, oregano, garlic powder; a pantry symphony that bordered on excessive in the way only a ’90s “healthy” recipe could.
From Salon
Airlangga said that as part of the deal, Indonesia has secured tariff exemptions for more than 1,700 goods, including coffee, spices, chocolate, natural rubber and, notably, its top export product palm oil.
From BBC
I had to spice up the salsa with drizzles of Tabasco.
From Los Angeles Times
If a vegetable tastes good with sugar and spice, let it.
From Salon
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.
