Main Entry: cap·si·cum

Pronunciation: \ˈkap-si-kəm\

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin, perhaps from Latin capsa

Date: 1588

1 a : any of a genus (Capsicum) of tropical American herbs and shrubs of the nightshade family widely cultivated for their many-seeded usually fleshy-walled berries —called also pepper b : pepper 3b
2 : an oleoresin derived from the fruit of some capsicums that contains capsaicin and related compounds and is used medicinally especially as a topical pain reliever