star anise

noun

Definition of star anise

: the small brown star-shaped pungent fruit of a Chinese and Vietnamese tree (Illicium verum) that has a flavor similar to but stronger than anise and is dried and used whole or ground as a spice especially in Chinese cooking

Examples of star anise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Garnish with apples, star anise, cinnamon, grated nutmeg. — The Editors, Marie Claire, "Holiday Punch Recipes That Will *Make* Your Next Party," 23 Nov. 2016 To add flair, using a plastic Tupperware (quart size) freeze a large block of ice with star anise, and winter citrus fruit. — The Editors, Marie Claire, "Holiday Punch Recipes That Will *Make* Your Next Party," 23 Nov. 2016 This bright and sparkling blend is reminiscent of a sunny drive down the California coast with notes of clementine, mandarin, juniper berries and star anise. — Leah Melby Clinton, Marie Claire, "8 Beauty Bloggers Reveal Their Luxe Sephora Hauls," 10 Sep. 2018 In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil the cinnamon sticks, star anise, lemon juice and zest, maple syrup, honey, sugar, and water. — Daniel Boulud, ELLE Decor, "Recipe: Pear Charlotte Cake," 18 Nov. 2015 The Yuletide treat, developed by The Republic of Tea, is a cardamom cinnamon flavor that features your favorite holiday spices plus zesty ginger, cloves, and star anise. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Country Living, "Hallmark Released a 'Countdown to Christmas' Tea and We Need a Cup Now," 28 Oct. 2018 Add garlic, ginger, five-spice powder, star anise and cinnamon and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Five-Spice Beef Stew," 3 Jan. 2018 For something on the lighter side, there’s an excellent sesame-cucumber salad, or the Mr. Peanut and Mrs. Edamame, an addictive bowl of both legumes, boiled in their shells and strewn with whole star anise and thick peels of ginger. — Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, "At Le Sia, Find Nirvana in Crawfish Domination," 4 June 2017 Meanwhile, in small saucepan, combine cider, vinegar, cinnamon, star anise, and ginger. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Cider-Glazed Pork and Apples," 22 Sep. 2015

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

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The first known use of star anise was in 1838

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More Definitions for star anise

star anise

noun

English Language Learners Definition of star anise

: a small brown star-shaped fruit that is dried and used as a spice especially in Chinese cooking

See the full definition for star anise in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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