spice

[ spahys ]

noun

1. any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.
2. such substances collectively or as material:

   Cookies without spice can be tasteless.

3. a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance.
4. something that gives zest:

   a spice of humor in his solemnity.

5. a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy:

   The anecdotes lent spice to her talk.

   Synonyms: charm, interest, zing

6. Archaic. a small quantity of something; trace; bit.

verb (used with object)

, spiced, spic·ing.

1. to prepare or season with a spice or spices.
2. to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added.

Trademark.

1. Spice. a brand name for a synthetic cannabis compound.

spice

/ spaɪs /

noun

1. 1. any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings
   2. these substances collectively
2. something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto
3. rare.
   a small amount
4. dialect.
   confectionery

verb

1. to prepare or flavour (food) with spices
2. to introduce charm or zest into

Derived Forms

• ˈspicer, noun

Other Words From

• spicea·ble adjective
• spiceless adjective
• spicelike adjective
• over·spice verb overspiced overspicing
• re·spice verb (used with object) respiced respicing
• un·spiced adjective
• well-spiced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spice¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spice¹

C13: from Old French espice, from Late Latin speciēs (pl) spices, from Latin speciēs (sing) kind; also associated with Late Latin spīcea (unattested) fragrant herb, from Latin spīceus having spikes of foliage; see spica

Idioms and Phrases

see variety is the spice of life .

Example Sentences

Every single cast member is a very specific spice in the spice rack.

From Los Angeles Times

I grew up with Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears in my prime teen years.

From Los Angeles Times

Men complain about way too much these days: Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, women who swipe left on Tinder, "Barbie" or other movies with female leads, pronouns in social media bios, pumpkin spice lattes, whatever Joe Rogan is telling them to be angry about.

From Salon

Harper, the youngest child of the Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer and her husband David, told the audience she was "so nervous" but also "excited to be here presenting the entrepreneur award, especially as tonight is a school night and hopefully this isn't going to get me into trouble".

From BBC

The result is a punch of spice, a tickle of tang and a soupçon of sweet.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• salt
• seasoning