Agency Dictionary
spice
nounPronunciation: /spaɪs/
In Portuguese: especiaria
History & Civilizations
Economics & FinanceWhat does “spice” mean?
An aromatic or pungent vegetable substance used to flavor, color, or preserve food and beverages.
Etymology
From Middle English spice, taken from Old French espice (modern French épice), which continues Late Latin species in the sense of "goods, wares", especially aromatic ones. In classical Latin species meant "kind, sort" and, before that, "appearance". English species is the same word borrowed again in learned form, so spice and species are doublets.
Usage note
Spice is both countable (a spice, many spices) and a mass noun (a pinch of spice). Figuratively it means something that adds interest or zest.
Synonyms
- seasoning
- flavoring
- condiment
Often confused with
- herb
- A herb is the leafy green part of a plant; a spice usually comes from the seed, bark, root or fruit and is often dried.
Word family
- spicy
- spicery
- spiciness
- spiced
Rhymes with
- ice
- nice
- price
- rice
- twice
- dice
- slice
- advice
Usage examples
The spice trade between Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages even led to the Crusades and other conflicts.
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
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