licorice

/ˈlɪkərɪʃ/

/ˈlɪkərɪʃ/

If you've ever had a long, sweet, chewy, black candy, you've probably had licorice. This is a common type of candy made from the dried roots of the licorice plant.

Licorice is a blue-flowered plant from the Mediterranean region. Its long roots are used to make candy also known as licorice. People have been eating licorice for so long that you can find people comparing sweet things to licorice as far back as the 1300's. The licorice plant is known for its blue flowers and compound leaves, though it's the long roots beneath the surface that are so delicious.

Definitions of licorice

1. noun

   deep-rooted coarse-textured plant native to the Mediterranean region having blue flowers and pinnately compound leaves; widely cultivated in Europe for its long thick sweet roots
   synonyms: Glycyrrhiza glabra, liquorice

   type of:

   herb, herbaceous plant

   a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
2. noun

   a candy flavored with the dried root of the licorice plant (usually black or red)
   synonyms: liquorice

   type of:

   candy, confect

   a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts