/ spaɪs; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] one of the various types of powder or seed that come from plants and are used in cooking. Spices have a strong taste and smell :
common spices such as ginger and cinnamon
a spice jar
2.
[ U ] extra interest or excitement :
We need an exciting trip to add some spice to our lives.
•
IDIOMS
see variety
■ verb [ vn ] spice sth (up) (with sth)
1.
to add spice to food in order to give it more flavour
2.
to add interest or excitement to sth :
He exaggerated the details to spice up the story.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : shortening of Old French espice , from Latin species sort, kind, in late Latin wares.