adjective
spicy
Containing spices, especially ones that give a hot taste.
The spicy sauce makes my lips tingle with every bite.
Etymology
The adjective adds -y to spice. It describes food containing noticeable spices, especially those producing a hot or pungent sensation.
More examples
- I prefer mildly spicy food to dishes loaded with chilies.
- This salsa is spicier than the one we usually buy.
- She orders the spiciest curry on the menu.
Forms
spicy · spicier · spiciest
spice noun — A plant substance used to flavor food.
spiciness noun — The quality of having a spicy taste.
Similar words
- hot
- Emphasizes burning heat rather than the presence of spices.
- peppery
- Specifically suggests the sharp taste of pepper.