I. ˈspīs noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French espice, from Late Latin species spices, from Latin, sight, outward appearance, sort, from specere to look — more at spy
1.
a. : any of various aromatic vegetable products (as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, allspice, ginger, cloves) used in cookery to season food and to flavor foods (as sauces, pickles, cakes)
b. : a substance or collection of substances used as a spice
add spice to a cake
2.
a. archaic : a small portion, quantity, or admixture : dash , touch , taste
b. : something that enriches or alters the quality of a thing especially in a small degree : something that gives zest or pungency : a piquant or pleasing flavor : relish
our friends have all … a spice of mischief in their constitutions — F.A.Swinnerton
scandals a hundred years old usually lack spice for anyone save the antiquary — Katharine F. Gerould
3. : a pungent or fragrant odor : perfume
4. : a brownish orange that is redder and duller than leather, stronger, slightly redder, and darker than gold pheasant, and slightly redder and darker than prairie brown, Windsor tan, Titian, or amber brown
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English spicen, from spice, n.
1. : to season with spices : mix aromatic or pungent substances with : flavor , season
spice a sauce
2. : to season as if with spices : make spicy, piquant, or pleasing
his chapters are spiced with a wealth of curious and amusing detail — British Book News
these anecdotes, if spiced with derision, remained unflavored by malice — J.B.Cabell
days of adventure, all the pleasanter for being spiced with danger — W.H.Hudson †1922
— often used with up
never misses a trick to spice things up for the ordinary customer — Hal Lehrman