spice

6 definitions • 8 examples

a substance made from a plant, used to give a special flavour to food:

Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves are all spices.

Spices are widely used in South Asian cooking.

something that makes something else more exciting and interesting:

A scandal or two adds a little spice to office life.

an artificial drug that has similar effects to those produced by the illegal drug cannabis

to use spice to add flavour to food or drink:

coffee spiced with cinnamon

a highly spiced curry

a flavoring for food made from part of a plant, such as its fruit, seeds, or root, usually dried and often made into a powder:

[ C ] Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves are all spices.

[ U ] This curry needs a little more spice.

Spice can also mean excitement or interest:

[ U ] "Variety is the spice of life" is a common expression.