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

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

Furthermore, some data suggests that the spice's rare toxicity may be linked to aberrant immune responses to curcumin, which may lead immune cells to attack the liver. —ArsTechnica, 10 July 2025

My favorite is the ham and Gouda sandwich, but my husband’s shawarma burger, coated with Middle Eastern spices, was also delicious. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025

Verb

This advantage allows the Veto holder not only to save a nominee from potential eviction, but also to name the replacement nominee, taking a bit of power away from the HOH and spicing things up. —Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 10 July 2025

McDonald's is reviving fan favorites, spicing up its menu and emphasizing low-cost items to bring inflation-weary customers back to the Golden Arches. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 9 July 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