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

Former homes are now occupied by spice warehouses and stores selling antiques and handicrafts. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

As for these spices’ association with the mighty pumpkin, several cookbooks from the 17th and 18th centuries feature pumpkin pie recipes that call for such flavorings. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

The restaurant’s unfussy dining room is spiced with colorful murals, among them an ominous bathroom-door piece featuring a toilet spewing orange flames. — Ellen Fort, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026

The movie is essentially an old-fashioned story of one lad’s sentimental education, spiced up with NSFW perversity. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026

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