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Webster 1913 Edition


Licorice

Lic′o-rice

(lĭk′ō̍-rĭs)
,
Noun.
[OE.
licoris
, through old French, fr. L.
liquiritia
, corrupted fr.
glycyrrhiza
, Gr.
γλυκύρριζα
;
γλυκύσ
sweet +
ῥίζα
root. Cf.
Glycerin
,
Glycyrrhiza
,
Wort
.]
[Written also
liquorice
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A plant of the genus
Glycyrrhiza
(
Glycyrrhiza glabra
), the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much used in demulcent compositions.
2.
The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a confection and for medicinal purposes.
Licorice fern
(Bot.)
,
a name of several kinds of polypody which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor.
Licorice sugar
.
(Chem.)
Licorice weed
(Bot.)
,
the tropical plant
Scapania dulcis
.
Mountain licorice
(Bot.)
,
a kind of clover (
Trifolium alpinum
), found in the Alps. It has large purplish flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock.
Wild licorice
.
(Bot.)
(a)
The North American perennial herb
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
.
(b)
Certain broad-leaved cleavers (
Galium circæzans
and
Galium lanceolatum
).
(c)
The leguminous climber
Abrus precatorius
, whose scarlet and black seeds are called
black-eyed Susans
. Its roots are used as a substitute for those of true licorice (
Glycyrrhiza glabra
).

Webster 1828 Edition


Licorice

LIC'ORICE

,
Noun.
[L. glycyrrhiza; Gr. sweet, and root.]
A plant of the genus Glycyrrhiza. The root of this plant abounds with a sweet balsamic juice, much used in pectoral compositions.

Definition 2024


licorice

licorice

English

Alternative forms

Noun

licorice (usually uncountable, plural licorices)

  1. The plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, or sometimes in North America the related American Licorice plant Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
  2. A type of candy made from that plant's dried root or its extract.
  3. A black colour, named after the licorice.
    licorice colour:    

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also