[lic.o.rice] n [ME licorice, fr. OF, fr. LL liquiritia, alter. of L glycyrrhiza, fr. Gk glykyrrhiza, fr. glykys sweet + rhiza root--more at dulcet, root] (13c) 1 a: the dried root of a European leguminous plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) with pinnate leaves and spikes of blue flowers; also: an extract of this used esp. in medicine, liquors, and confectionery b: a candy flavored with licorice
2: a plant yielding licorice