licorice

[ lik-er-ish, lik-rish, lik-uh-ris ]

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, of the legume family.
2. the sweet-tasting, dried root of this plant or an extract made from it, used in medicine, confectionery, etc.
3. a candy flavored with licorice root.
4. any of various related or similar plants.

licorice

/ ˈlɪkərɪs /

noun

1. the usual US and Canadian spelling of liquorice

Word History and Origins

Origin of licorice¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English lycorys, from Anglo-French, from unattested Vulgar Latin liquiritia for Latin glycyrrhiza, from Greek glykýrrhiza “sweetroot (plant),” equivalent to glyký(s) “sweet” + rhíza “root”; root ¹, -ia

Example Sentences

This first crossover into the treat category was the Pontefract Cake, and from there, England developed its own licorice style, the most famous example being Liquorice allsorts, a mixture of firmer licorice candies in a range of flavors and colors.

From Eater

Wilson’s cookbook details various types of pure licorice, from sticks and powders to syrups and pellets.

From Eater

With licorice there’s always another frontier to explore and discuss.

From Eater

When I was a kid growing up in Scandinavia, licorice was a standard category in the candy aisle alongside chocolate and caramels.

From Eater

Hypoglycemia or Low Blood Sugar - Make a tea from hot water and licorice powder which you drink twice daily.

From The Daily Beast

Two bottles of stout supplied the necessary lubrication, and there was frequent recourse to a box of licorice pastilles.

From The Daily Beast

Not everybody likes licorice, but people who like licorice really like licorice.

From The Daily Beast

Cooked or raw, the mild licorice flavor of fennel is amazing matched with citrus fruit.

From The Daily Beast

With the addition of licorice-flavored Pernod, this dish has a uniquely sophisticated flavor.

From The Daily Beast

Little girls hurried across the street, and the jar of licorice was exhausted.

From Project Gutenberg

For that matter, if they 107came right over, he would take back the tissue-paper and substitute licorice sticks.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Italian province of Calabria licorice is planted with peas and corn.

From Project Gutenberg

As to the exact habitat of licorice there is some difference of opinion.

From Project Gutenberg

About the nastiest of all candies are the licorice and the chocolate conglomerations.

From Project Gutenberg