star anise


noun

Also called Chinese anise. a shrub or small tree, Illicium verum, of China, having white flowers that turn purple and bearing anise-scented, star-shaped clusters of carminative fruit.
the fruit of this tree or shrub, used as a spice.

Origin of star anise

First recorded in 1830–40

Example sentences from the Web for star anise

British Dictionary definitions for star anise

star anise

noun

a small Chinese evergreen tree (Illicium verum) yielding an aromatic oil
a spice produced from the star-shaped dried seed pods of this tree