anise

noun

an·​ise ˈa-nəs How to pronounce anise (audio)
 also  ə-ˈnēs
: a Eurasian annual herb (Pimpinella anisum) of the carrot family having carminative and aromatic seeds
also : aniseed

Examples of anise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Old Tom gins still feature juniper, but the sweetness allows for other botanicals, such as licorice or anise, to shine through. Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Another ingredient, anise, gives the spirit a black licorice flavor, and Neeley was always the type of kid who didn’t shy away from black jellybeans. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 29 Oct. 2024 Take a sip to find agave-first flavors, with additional notes of bright citrus, cinnamon and anise. Kevin Gray, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 At the core of it are herbs—grand wormwood, green anise, and fennel—that are infused and re-distilled and flavored usually with more herbs like angelica, star anise, licorice root, and others. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for anise 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English anis, from Anglo-French, from Latin anisum, from Greek annēson, anison

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anise was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near anise

Cite this Entry

“Anise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anise. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

anise

noun
an·​ise ˈan-əs How to pronounce anise (audio)
: an herb that is related to the carrot and produces seeds with an aroma
also : aniseed

Medical Definition

anise

noun
an·​ise ˈan-əs How to pronounce anise (audio)
: an herb (Pimpinella anisum) of the family Umbelliferae having carminative and aromatic seeds
also : aniseed

More from Merriam-Webster on anise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!