licorice

Meaning

1. (countable, usually) A plant of species Glycyrrhiza glabra, or sometimes in North America, the related American licorice plant Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
2. (uncountable, usually) A type of candy made from that plant's dried root or its extract.
3. (countable, uncountable, usually) A black color, named after the licorice.
4. (uncountable, usually) A flavoring agent made from dried root portions of the aforementioned plant.
5. (uncountable, usually) A supposed aphrodisiac made in the past from dried roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza echinata.

Synonyms

liquorice

liquorice

licorice root

liquorice root

licorice candy

Glycyrrhiza glabra

liquorice root

licorice root

radix glycyrrhizae

glycyrrhiza uralensis

radix liquiritiae

tuckahoe

leguminous plant

sweetroot

Translations

réglisse

liquirizia

Lakritze

regaliz

regalèssia

alcaçuz

Süßholz

γλυκόριζα

pega dolça

Lakritz

drop

💧

zoethout

doce de alcaçuz

arrezuz

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɪ.k(ə).ɹɪʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: lycorys

Cognate with English: glucose

Cognate with English: rhizome

In summary

From Middle English lycorys, from Old French licoresse, from Late Latin liquiritia, alteration of Ancient Greek γλυκύρριζα (glukúrrhiza): γλυκύς (glukús, “sweet”) + ῥίζα (rhíza, “root”) (English glucose, English rhizome). Doublet of glycyrrhiza.