Noun: star anise staa(r) a-nis
- Anise-scented star-shaped fruit or seed used in Asian cooking and medicine
"He added star anise to the mulled wine for a distinctive flavour";
- Chinese anise, star aniseed
- Small tree of China and Vietnam bearing anise-scented star-shaped fruit used in food and medicinally as a carminative
"Star anise is an essential ingredient in Chinese five-spice powder";
- Chinese anise, Illicium verum
- Small shrubby tree of Japan and Taiwan; flowers are not fragrant
"This variety of star anise is grown primarily as an ornamental";
- Illicium anisatum
Derived forms: star anises
Type of: anise tree, spice
Part of: five spice powder, genus Illicium, Illicium
Encyclopedia: Star anise