spice
Use Spice in a sentence
noun
1.
any of a class of pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.
2.
such substances collectively or as material: Cookies without spice can be tasteless.
3.
a spicy or aromatic odor or fragrance.
4.
something that gives zest: a spice of humor in his solemnity.
5.
a piquant, interesting element or quality; zest; piquancy: The anecdotes lent spice to her talk.
verb (used with object)
7.
to prepare or season with a spice or spices.
8.
to give zest, piquancy, or interest to by something added.
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Spice
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Origin:
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English, aphetic form of Old French espice (French épice) < Latin speciēs appearance, sort, kind (see species), in Late Latin (plural): goods, wares, spices, drugs; (v.) Middle English spicen, in part derivative of the noun, in part < Old French espicer, derivative of espice
1175–1225; (noun) Middle English, aphetic form of Old French espice (French épice) < Latin speciēs appearance, sort, kind (see species), in Late Latin (plural): goods, wares, spices, drugs; (v.) Middle English spicen, in part derivative of the noun, in part < Old French espicer, derivative of espice
Related forms
spice·a·ble, adjective
spice·less, adjective
spice·like, adjective
o·ver·spice, verb, o·ver·spiced, o·ver·spic·ing.
re·spice, verb (used with object), re·spiced, re·spic·ing.
Synonyms
5. tang, gusto, zip.
5. tang, gusto, zip.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To spice
Collins
World English Dictionary
spice (spaɪs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a. any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings |
| b. these substances collectively | |
| 2. | something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto |
| 3. | rare a small amount |
| 4. | dialect (Yorkshire) confectionery |
| —vb | |
| 5. | to prepare or flavour (food) with spices |
| 6. | to introduce charm or zest into |
| [C13: from Old French espice, from Late Latin speciēs (pl) spices, from Latin speciēs (sing) kind; also associated with Late Latin spīcea (unattested) fragrant herb, from Latin spīceus having spikes of foliage; see | |
| 'spicer | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
spice
early 13c., from O.Fr. espice, from L.L. species (pl.) "spices, goods, wares," from L. "kind, sort" (see species). Early druggists recognized four "types" of spices: saffron, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. Fig. sense of "slight touch or trace of something" is recorded from 1530s.
The verb, "to season with spices" is first recorded early 14c. (implied in spiced). Spicy is from 1560s; in the fig. sense of "racy, salacious" it dates from 1844. Spice-cake first attested 1520s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Add a small amount to the soup for the zest of spice.
Make a spice bag by wrapping the spices in a piece of cheesecloth and securing with twine.
And he's guaranteed to spice up the race if he gets in.
Although they commonly spice up everything from stews to tamales, rajas are best when adding a kick to creamy dishes.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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