spice

1 of 2

noun

ˈspīs 

plural spices

1

: a plant product (such as pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, or ginger) that is used to season or flavor foods and is usually comprised of seeds, fruits, bark, or rhizomes that have been dried and typically ground

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

spiceless

ˈspīs-ləs 

adjective

spiceless food

spice

2 of 2

verb

spiced; spicing

transitive verb

1

: to season with spices

2

: to add zest or relish to

… cynicism spiced with humor.

—J. W. Dawson

—often used with up

Synonyms of spice

Noun

• scent
• fragrance
• aroma
• fragrancy
• perfume

Verb

• flavor

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

A touch of cardamom adds another dash of spice, while bergamot infuses the fragrance with a twist of citrus. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 9 Dec. 2025

The spice company identified three additional flavor trends to follow next year. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2025

Verb

Lightly spiced and oh-so-sweet, this Thanksgiving classic is welcome at our dinner table any time of year. —Brennan Long, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025

Doechii lit up Camp Flog Gnaw during her headlining slot, and spiced her show up by giving Ayo Edebiri a memorable lap dance. —Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing spice

• five-spice powder
• pumpkin pie spice
• pumpkin spice
• spice rack
• variety is the spice of life

Rhymes for spice

• dice
• feis
• gneiss
• grice
• ice
• lice
• mice
• slice
• splice
• thrice
• trice
• twice

Kids Definition

spice

1 of 2 noun

ˈspīs 

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