Definition

1. Noun:
   • A plant: A flowering plant (Pimpinella anisum) native to the Eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia, cultivated for its aromatic seeds.
   • A seed: The small, oval, licorice-flavored seeds of the anise plant, used as a spice in cooking, baking, and for flavoring liquors.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Plant):
  • The farmer grows anise in his herb garden.
  • Anise is a member of the carrot family.
• Noun (Seed):
  • The recipe calls for a teaspoon of crushed anise.
  • She flavored the cookies with anise.

Advanced Usage

• "Anise-flavored": Having a taste or aroma characteristic of anise seeds.
  • He prefers anise-flavored liqueurs like ouzo or pastis.
• Botanical Context: In botanical texts, "anise" specifically refers to , distinguishing it from other licorice-flavored plants like star anise ().

Variants and Related Words

• Aniseed (n): Another term for the seed of the anise plant, commonly used in British English.
  • The medicine contained oil of aniseed.
• Anisette (n): A sweet, colorless liqueur flavored with anise seeds.
  • They served anisette as a digestif after the meal.

Synonyms

• Anise seed: The seed of the anise plant.
• Sweet cumin: An archaic or regional name for anise, referencing its sweet, aromatic quality.

Related Phrases

• Oil of anise: The essential oil extracted from anise seeds, used in flavoring and medicine.
  • Oil of anise is a common ingredient in cough syrups.

Noun

1. liquorice-flavored seeds, used medicinally and in cooking and liquors
2. native to Egypt but cultivated widely for its aromatic seeds and the oil from them used medicinally and as a flavoring in cookery