ILLICIUM


Meaning of ILLICIUM in English

ə̇ˈlis(h)ēəm, -likē- noun

Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, allurement

1. capitalized : a small genus of evergreen trees (family Magnoliaceae) with aromatic persistent leaves and nodding yellow or purplish flowers — see chinese anise , star anise

2. pl il·licia -ēə or illiciums : the first spine of the dorsal fin of a pediculate fish migrated to the upper lip and transformed into a complex tentacle that serves as a lure to attract other fish within range of the capacious jaws

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.