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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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 The menu offers mango papaya salad with tamarind vinaigrette and crispy dried shrimp, crispy chicken dumplings, roti wrap filled with five-spice barbecue brisket, and spicy citrus pork lettuce wraps. — Greg Morago, Houston Chronicle, "First look: Politan Row dining hall in Rice Village," 7 Nov. 2019 Turkish Meatballs with Lime-Yogurt Sauce Makes 6 servings Heat the spices, shallots, and garlic in oil in the microwave to draw out their flavors. Don’t use stale bread — fresh pita adds light texture and fresh flavor that stale bread couldn’t. — BostonGlobe.com, "Cashew-Coconut Meatballs with Creamy Spiced Tomato Sauce," 7 Nov. 2019 Much is said about the simplicity of Japanese cuisine, which eschews strong spices, but that simplicity shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of flavor. — Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, "The Japanese Fried-Rice Omelette That Rewired My Brain," 5 Nov. 2019 Left over pumpkin spice is great for the holidays Chef Lance Whipple of Talavera at the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale shared the recipe for his pumpkin spiced churros on Sunday afternoon. — Tirion Morris, azcentral, "10 things we learned at the 2019 azcentral Wine & Food Experience," 4 Nov. 2019 Starbucks, though, seems to be hanging on to pumpkin spice season a little longer. — Leah Asmelash, CNN, "Dunkin's peppermint mocha launches the beginning of the holiday season," 2 Nov. 2019 Festive spices meet chocolate in this rich and moist cake, the perfect centerpiece for any holiday dinner. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Chocolate Gingerbread Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream," 1 Nov. 2019 Not surprisingly, our choice today is oh-so-appropriate pumpkin spice. — Ed Silverman, STAT, "Pharmalittle: Pharma keeps slashing jobs in the U.S.; overseas plants have more data integrity violations," 31 Oct. 2019 Sliced chicken cutlet subs for the pork, long hots add the spice. — Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, "Tee’ing up tastes for National Sandwich Day in Orlando," 31 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Pumpkin spice lattes better watch their back, because there’s a new beverage in town looking to spice up the holidays. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "WATCH: Borden’s New Gingerbread Eggnog Is Here to Spice up Your Holidays," 23 Oct. 2019 Their floppy haircuts, enormous phones and quaint dating rituals belong to a distant past, in which coffee was seldom pumpkin-spiced and people jotted down their contact details on napkins. — J.t., The Economist, "Why “Friends” is still the world’s favourite sitcom, 25 years on," 20 Sep. 2019 Middle East Grill in Andersonville uses soft lavash bread baked next door at Middle East Bakery & Grocery to hold its intricately spiced slices of chicken ($7.25). — Nick Kindelsperger, chicagotribune.com, "From shawarma to falafel, where to find the best Middle Eastern sandwiches in Chicagoland," 16 Aug. 2019 With It Breakfast just wouldn't be the same without a hot cup of joe, but coffee can also spice up your dinner. — Heidi Davis, Popular Mechanics, "10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Coffee," 29 Sep. 2014 Stir 1/2 cup sugar and the 1/4 cup of spiced water in a heavy small saucepan over low heat until the sugar dissolves. — ExpressNews.com, "Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Flan," 4 Sep. 2019 Garden Glory, a new Swedish gardening and outdoor accessories brand, is here to spice up your backyard with plenty of color and all sorts of unique designs. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "Yes, Stylish Garden Hoses Exist, and You Definitely Deserve One," 9 July 2019 At just $178, the mustard colored mini was an affordable choice that spiced up Shayk’s staples, especially when paired with a matching mini-bag from her collection with the Kooples. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Irina Shayk Reinvents Model Off-Duty Style," 27 June 2019 The menu changes often, but appetizers with staying power include housemade sausage, classic mussels, and French feta topped with pistachios, dates, capers, and spiced honey and served with coriander lavash. — al, "Take a culinary tour of the world in Crestline Village," 22 Aug. 2019

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

11 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for spice

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

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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