spice

¹spice

noun \ˈspīs\

: a substance (such as pepper or nutmeg) that is used in cooking to add flavor to food and that comes from a dried plant and is usually a powder or seed

: something that adds interest or excitement

Full Definition of SPICE

1

:  any of various aromatic vegetable products (as pepper or nutmeg) used to season or flavor foods

2

a archaic :  a small portion, quantity, or admixture :  dash

b :  something that gives zest or relish <variety's the very spice of life — William Cowper>

3

:  a pungent or fragrant odor :  perfume

— spice·less \-ləs\ adjective

Examples of SPICE

1. The soup needs a little more spice.
2. <a cologne for men that captures all of the spice of the sea>

Origin of SPICE

Middle English, from Anglo-French espece, espis, from Late Latin species product, wares, drugs, spices, from Latin, appearance, species — more at species

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SPICE

Synonyms

aroma, attar (also otto), balm, bouquet, fragrancy, incense, perfume, redolence, scent, fragrance

Antonyms

fetor, malodor, reek, stench, stink

Related Words

essence, odor

Near Antonyms

flatness, tastelessness; dullness (also dulness), insipidity, monotonousness, monotony, platitude, predictability, sameness, tediousness; blandness, thinness, weakness

Rhymes with SPICE

dice, gneiss, ice, lyse, nice, pice, price, rice, slice, splice, syce, thrice, trice, twice, vice, vise

²spice

transitive verb

: to flavor (food) with spices

: to add interest or excitement to (something)

spicedspic·ing

Full Definition of SPICE

1

:  to season with spices

2

:  to add zest or relish to <cynicism spiced with humor — J. W. Dawson> —often used with up

Examples of SPICE

1. I spiced the chicken with ginger.
2. <spice the stew with more pepper>

First Known Use of SPICE

14th century

Related to SPICE

Synonyms

flavor, lace, savor (also savour), season

Related Words

enhance, enrich, sauce; pepper, salt; aromatize, perfume