Definition

Noun 1. A European herb (Myrrhis odorata): A perennial plant belonging to the Apiaceae (carrot) family, characterized by soft, fern-like leaves and clusters of small white flowers. It is valued for its aromatic properties. 2. A culinary and aromatic herb: The fresh leaves and green seeds of this plant are used as a flavoring or garnish. The dried seeds are used as a spice.

Usage

• The term sweet cicely refers specifically to the plant . It is used as a common name for this herb.
• It is primarily used in culinary contexts to describe the plant or its parts used in cooking.

Examples

• "She grows sweet cicely in her herb garden for its anise-like flavor."
• "The recipe calls for a garnish of chopped sweet cicely leaves."
• "Sweet cicely is sometimes used to sweeten tart fruits."

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In botanical writing, sweet cicely is clearly distinguished from other plants with "cicely" in their name, such as American sweet cicely ( species).
• Historical/Herbalist Context: Historically, sweet cicely was used for its purported medicinal properties as a digestive aid.

Variants and Related Words

• Myrrhis odorata: The botanical Latin name for sweet cicely.
• Cicely: A shorter, common variant of the name, though this can sometimes cause confusion with other plants.
• Cow parsley / Wild chervil: These are common names for related but different plants in the Apiaceae family; they are not synonyms for sweet cicely.

Different Meanings

The term sweet cicely has one primary meaning referring to the specific herb Myrrhis odorata. It should not be confused with: * American sweet cicely (Osmorhiza spp.): A different genus of plants native to North America, though also aromatic and historically used.

Synonyms

• Garden myrrh: An alternative common name.
• Sweet chervil: A name highlighting its flavor similarity to chervil.

Notes

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with sweet cicely, as it is a concrete noun referring to a plant.

Noun

1. fresh ferny leaves and green seeds used as garnish in salads and cold vegetables; dried seeds used in confectionery and liqueurs
2. aromatic resin that is burned as incense and used in perfume
3. European herb with soft ferny leaves and white flowers