spice

1 of 2

noun

1
: any of various aromatic vegetable products (such 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 lifeWilliam Cowper
3
: a pungent or fragrant odor : perfume
spiceless adjective

spice

2 of 2

verb

spiced; spicing

transitive verb

1
: to season with spices
2
: to add zest or relish to
cynicism spiced with humorJ. W. Dawson
often used with up

Examples of spice in a Sentence

Noun The soup needs a little more spice. a cologne for men that captures all of the spice of the sea Verb I spiced the chicken with ginger. spice the stew with more pepper
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There is a soft floral note on the palate mingling with flavors of black cherry, Mission fig, brown baking spices, and milk chocolate. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 Anderson’s classic boules are as shapely and golden as any, but his most eye-catching bakes blend traditional sourdough techniques with bold spices and unexpected ingredients. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024 Testers woke up their eggs, salads, and avocado toasts with a scoop, which added spice, savoriness, and texture without overpowering the rest of the meal. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024 Some lead in spices may come from manufacturing, storage or shipping processes. Jonel Aleccia, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 At lively Nishiki Market, a five-block-long shopping street with more than 100 restaurants and shops, everything that a Japanese cook could want can be found—seafood, produce, spices and rice varieties, as well as pots, tableware, knives and personalized chopsticks. Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 There are 24 flat packets containing 1/2 cup each of essential spices, from cayenne to coriander. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Cooks in local restaurants race to prepare traditional rice dishes for the evening rush, chopping green bell peppers and carrots while fresh fish bathed in spices fry on the grill. Ayen Deng Bior, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 Executive pastry chef Alicia Wang and pastry chef Emma Scanlon fascinate with their zaatar (spices) and labneh (thick strained yogurt) croissants. Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Verb
However, the case’s prosecutor is her brother-in-law Ray (Sagar), who spices up their family dinner. Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 The first film was a work of art, and so is this one, with a screenplay from Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts that spices things up by moving characters like chess pieces to more strategic positions in this world. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 To spice up the look, the mom of four wore large statement earrings and multiple rings. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 It’s used in dishes both savory and sweet, although it’s particularly beloved in traditional desserts such as Indian moong dal halwa, a buttery porridge often spiced with saffron and cardamom, and Korean injeolmi, glutinous rice cakes rolled in crushed nuts. Wei Tchou, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024 Chef Dipika Singh joins Rosenthal at his table for five-star comfort food, such as pao (a small roll made with potato), which is spiced with curry leaves, coriander, mustard seeds, turmeric and chili. Laura Manske, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Styled by Molly Dickson, Mendes arrived at Live with Kelly and Mark wearing a black-heavy outfit, spiced up with a gray pleated miniskirt, secured with two black leather belts. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Feb. 2024 The limited-edition collection includes almond honey fig, raspberry rose petal hibiscus, pomegranate strawberry, and spice wine berry flavors. Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2024 Reviewers rave about its ability to spice things up and explore new dimensions of intimacy. Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spice was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near spice

Cite this Entry

“Spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spice. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spice

1 of 2 noun
1
: a plant product (as pepper or nutmeg) that has a strong pleasant smell and is used to season or flavor food
2
: something that adds interest
variety is the spice of life
3
: a fragrant odor : perfume

spice

2 of 2 verb
spiced; spicing
: to season with or as if with spices

More from Merriam-Webster on spice

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