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View synonyms for

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: , ,

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


verb (used with object)

spiced, spicing.
  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

/ 貹ɪ /

noun

    1. any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings
    2. these substances collectively
  1. something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto
  2. rare.
    a small amount
  3. dialect.
    confectionery
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to prepare or flavour (food) with spices
  2. to introduce charm or zest into
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ辱, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • 辱a· adjective
  • 辱l adjective
  • 辱l adjective
  • v·辱 verb overspiced overspicing
  • ·辱 verb (used with object) respiced respicing
  • ܲ·辱 adjective
  • ɱ-辱 adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spice1

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English, aphetic form of Old French espice ( French é辱 ) from Latin 𳦾ŧ “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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of spice1

C13: from Old French espice, from Late Latin 𳦾ŧ (pl) spices, from Latin 𳦾ŧ (sing) kind; also associated with Late Latin ī (unattested) fragrant herb, from Latin īܲ having spikes of foliage; see spica
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Idioms and Phrases

see variety is the spice of life .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I joked that my spices were in my attitude.

From

They slow-cook the beef in Indonesian spices for four hours before layering it with sauerkraut, mayo, sweet mustard, and pickles on sourdough.

From

There was a grocery list, spice cans, copies of L.A. newspapers.

From

The sweet, spiced, smoky, complex flavors are a win for any curious foodie.

From

Just tread lightly if you’re feeding a crowd—spice tolerance can vary wildly.

From

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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.

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