spice

noun

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\ ˈspīs

Definition of spice

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a 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

verb

spiced; spicing

Definition of spice (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from spice Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about spice

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Synonyms & Antonyms for spice

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Noun

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 In addition to the characteristic spice, there’s a rich, honey-like sweetness on the palate, as well as delicate floral aromas that are both delicious and revelatory for 21st century whiskey drinkers. — Tony Sachs, Robb Report, "How This Distillery Revived a Long-Lost Style of American Whiskey," 7 May 2021 The country produces 90 percent of the world’s saffron supply, but the spice cannot be commercially exported to the United States under current regulations. — Washington Post, "Spain cracks down on saffron crime ring, arresting 17 in raid," 7 May 2021 Fine Foods is still independently owned and manufactured in Washington state, which is quite a feat in an industry dominated by major spice and seasoning corporations. — Melissa Miranda, Bon Appétit, "I Use Johnny’s Seasoning Salt on Everything. EVERYTHING.," 6 May 2021 Coriander, typically part of the recipe, subtly accentuates the yeasty spice. — Michael Agnew, Star Tribune, "Belgian witbiers, once forgotten, are popular summer sippers," 5 May 2021 And the simple but homey heirloom bean soup with potatoes and Edam cheese can be customized with extra spice to suit a diner’s tastes. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Claudette Zepeda’s long-awaited VAGA restaurant finally opens in Encinitas," 5 May 2021 Desert Pepper Cantina Medium Green Salsa adds a hint of spice and vibrant flavor to this delicious dish. — Kate Merker, Good Housekeeping, "Shrimp, Zucchini and Corn Enchiladas," 4 May 2021 Only instead of turkey, duck and chicken, this sweet treat includes a bottom layer of sweet pecan pie, followed by a layer of pumpkin pie and finally a spice cake layer. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville chef hopes to win all the dough on Food Network's 'Best Baker in America'," 3 May 2021 The proportions change from recipe to recipe, but standard ingredients include instant tea powder, lemonade powder, Tang, and frequently cinnamon, cloves and/or nutmeg for extra spice. — Casey Barber, CNN, "Tang! The space-age drink that's still a worldwide staple," 1 May 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Stanton, who serves as Avise’s CEO, is bringing tricks learned at Peloton to spice up the CFO software world. — Steven Bertoni, Forbes, "Exclusive: Peloton Cofounder Launches Software Company To Shake-Up A New Industry," 5 May 2021 To spice up Day 3 of the NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals will a few special guests and former players on hand to welcome the 2021 picks on Saturday. — Katherine Fitzgerald, The Arizona Republic, "State Health Director Dr. Cara Christ among Cardinals' special guests for Day 3 of 2021 NFL Draft," 28 Apr. 2021 Up your game and spice up your resume with The All-in-One Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle. — Greta Good, Chron, "It's time to learn Excel. With this training you can master it for only $34," 17 Mar. 2021 Even the most conservative guys want a little zip to spice up their look today. — Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, "Torino Belts: Swing Into Fresh Style For 2021," 8 Apr. 2021 Looking to spice up a weeknight menu takes us to the Middle East, where herbs are treated like salad greens and bold flavors are easy with the right ingredients. — BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: A weeknight meal that makes the most of classic Middle Eastern ingredients," 7 Apr. 2021 Then, as now, horseradish was used primarily to spice up roast beef or a topping for oysters or other seafood. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, "Horseradish has deep roots in history," 30 Mar. 2021 For Fine Linens and Affordable Textiles Want to spice up your home's interior decor without breaking the bank? — Landon Pemper, Chron, "How to gain access to interior design showrooms in Houston when you're not a designer," 15 Mar. 2021 Soon after arriving in the United States, Needham was hired by Jann Wenner to spice up Rolling Stone. — Washington Post, "‘Reading the story today makes me cringe’: Female stars and the media machine of the early 2000s," 2 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Spice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spice. Accessed 18 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for spice

spice

noun

English Language Learners Definition of spice

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

spice

verb

English Language Learners Definition of spice (Entry 2 of 2)

: to flavor (food) with spices

: to add interest or excitement to (something)

See the full definition for spice in the English Language Learners Dictionary

spice

noun

\ ˈspīs