Definition

Noun 1. A pungent spice: A very hot, powdered spice made from the dried pods and seeds of certain red peppers (genus Capsicum). 2. A type of pepper plant: A plant (Capsicum annuum or related species) that bears long, slender, very hot fruits, typically red when mature. 3. The fruit of this plant: The long, often twisted, hot red pepper pod itself.

Usage Examples

• The recipe calls for a pinch of cayenne pepper to add heat.
• He grows cayenne pepper in his garden for homemade hot sauce.
• She chopped a fresh cayenne pepper and added it to the stir-fry.

Advanced Usage

• "To taste": Cayenne pepper is often added "to taste" in recipes due to its intense heat, meaning the cook should add small amounts until the desired level of spiciness is achieved.
  • Season the soup with salt and cayenne pepper to taste.

Variants and Related Words

• Cayenne (noun): A common shortened form for "cayenne pepper."
  • Add a dash of cayenne to the chili.
• Red pepper flakes: Often contain dried cayenne peppers, but are typically coarser and may include seeds.
• Chili powder: A spice blend that often includes ground cayenne pepper along with other spices like cumin and oregano.

Synonyms

• Red pepper (This term can be ambiguous, as it sometimes refers to milder paprika or simply any red chili pepper.)
• Hot pepper
• Chili pepper (A broader category; cayenne is a specific type of chili pepper.)

Related Phrases

• A pinch of cayenne: A very small amount, typically held between the thumb and forefinger.
  • The secret is just a pinch of cayenne in the chocolate sauce.
• Cayenne heat: Refers specifically to the spicy, pungent sensation caused by the capsaicin in the pepper.
  • The dish has a slow-building cayenne heat.

Noun

1. a long and often twisted hot red pepper
2. ground pods and seeds of pungent red peppers of the genus Capsicum
3. plant bearing very hot and finely tapering long peppers; usually red