anise

[ an-is ]

noun

1. a Mediterranean plant, Pimpinella anisum, of the parsley family, having loose umbrels of small yellowish-white flowers that yield aniseed.
2. aniseed.

anise

/ ˈænɪs /

noun

1. a Mediterranean umbelliferous plant, Pimpinella anisum, having clusters of small yellowish-white flowers and liquorice-flavoured seeds See aniseed

Other Words From

• a·nis·ic [uh, -, nis, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anise¹

1350–1400; Middle English anis < Old French < Latin anīsum < Greek ánīson

Word History and Origins

Origin of anise¹

C13: from Old French anis, via Latin from Greek anison

Example Sentences

Timothy Sharp, manager of Sparrow Coffee House in Cardiff, makes his own homemade syrup, adding spices like cloves, cardamom and star anise to the core PSL ingredients of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

From BBC

This red blend offers pipe tobacco and anise notes on the palate with shades of black currant.

From Seattle Times

The raki was a special liquor they made from fermented fruits like plums or mulberries with spicy additives like juniper or anise, that smelled, to me, like licorice and turpentine.

From Literature

You can taste the grassy honeysuckle and anise flavors of the sugar cane in the piloncillo because it’s made by hand without industrial processing, she said, adding that the chocolatería prefers it to regular sugar.

From Seattle Times

While each jar contains a spicy crimson sediment under oil, some have the sweetness of star anise, while others are deepened with tiny dried shrimp or fried shallots.

From New York Times