Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: espice, from Late Latin species 'spices', from Latin; SPECIES

spice

1 noun
     
spice
Related topics: Cooking
spice1
1 [uncountable and countable]DFC a type of powder or seed, taken from plants, that you put into food you are cooking to give it a special taste [↪ spicy]:
herbs and spices
2 [singular, uncountable] interest or excitement that is added to something:
Travel adds spice to your life.

➔ variety is the spice of life

at variety (5)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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