licorice Hear it!

licorice Definition

lico·rice (lik′ə ris̸h, lik′ris̸h; occas. lik′ə ris)

noun

  1. a European perennial plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra) of the pea family, with spikes of blue flowers and short, flat pods
  2. the dried root of this plant or the black extract made from it, used in medicine, esp. as a vehicle and a diluting agent, or as a flavoring
  3. candy flavored with this extract or in imitation of it

Etymology: ME licorys < OFr licorece < LL liquiritia, altered (by assoc. with liquor: see liquor) < L glycyrrhiza < Gr glykys, sweet (see glycerin) + rhiza, root

licorice Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • conceal: Does the ' new ' facade conceal the licorice all sorts within?

Adjective modifier

  • black: Lime chocolates for my sister and black licorice for me.

Modifies a noun

  • extract: Forever Lycium Plus: For thousands of years, people in Asia have used Lycium fruit and licorice extract to help maintain good health.
  • root: DLG is a natural product made from the herb licorice root.
licorice Quotes

   In the licorice fields at Pontefract My love and I did meet And many a burdened licorice bush Was blooming round our feet; Red hair she had and golden skin, Her sulky lips were shaped for sin, Her sturdy legs were flannel-slack'd, The strongest legs in Pontefract.

—Betjeman, SirJohn

Browse dictionary entries near licorice

  1. ‹ lickspittle
  2. ‹ licking
  3. ‹ lickety-split
  4. ‹ lickerish
  5. ‹ lick
  6. ‹ licit
  7. ‹ Lichtenstein
  8. ‹ licht
  9. ‹ lichenology
  10. ‹ lichen
  1. lictor ›
  2. lid ›
  3. lidar ›
  4. lidded ›
  5. lidless ›
  6. lido ›
  7. lidocaine ›
  8. lie ›
  9. lie detector ›
  10. lie down on the job ›