ayahuasca

[ ah-yuh-wah-skuh ]

noun

1. a woody South American vine, Banisteriopsis caapi, of the malpighia family, having bark that is the source of harmine, a hallucinogenic alkaloid used by Amazon Indians.

ayahuasca

/ ˌaɪəˈwɑːskə /

noun

1. a Brazilian plant, Banisteriopsis caapi, that has winged fruits and yields a powerful hallucinogenic alkaloid sometimes used to treat certain disorders of the central nervous system: family Malpighiaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayahuasca¹

From Latin American Spanish (Ecuador, Peru); from Quechua aya “dead” + huasca “rope”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayahuasca¹

C20: from Quechua

Example Sentences

Paul says that during an ayahuasca ceremony, he saw himself fighting former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, with millions of kids watching the match on their TVs and devices.

From Los Angeles Times

At times, this approaches the tone of your garden-variety L.A. surfer bro, spouting anecdotes about the benefits of ayahuasca.

From Los Angeles Times

Alvarado-Gil openly talked about “her vices,” according to the complaint, “which included sex and using the drug, ayahuasca, and taking gummies.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It feels pretty intense already. I feel like I’m about to do ayahuasca.”

From Salon

Torres’ ex-flatmate in New York, Luzer Twersky, told us that her Hollywood friends had introduced her to the hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca, and she was never the same again.

From BBC