star anise

star anise

n.

1. An aromatic eastern Asian evergreen tree (Illicium verum) having purple-red flowers and starlike clusters of anise-scented fruit.

2. The fruit of this plant, used in Asian cooking and medicine.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	star anise - small tree of China and Vietnam bearing anise-scented star-shaped fruit used in food and medicinally as a carminative Chinese anise, Illicium verum star aniseed, Chinese anise, star anise - anise-scented star-shaped fruit or seed used in Asian cooking and medicine genus Illicium, Illicium - anise trees: evergreen trees with aromatic leaves anise tree - any of several evergreen shrubs and small trees of the genus Illicium
	2.	star anise - small shrubby tree of Japan and Taiwan; flowers are not fragrant Illicium anisatum genus Illicium, Illicium - anise trees: evergreen trees with aromatic leaves anise tree - any of several evergreen shrubs and small trees of the genus Illicium
	3.	star anise - anise-scented star-shaped fruit or seed used in Asian cooking and medicine star aniseed, Chinese anise spice - any of a variety of pungent aromatic vegetable substances used for flavoring food five spice powder - Chinese seasoning made by grinding star anise and fennel and pepper and cloves and cinnamon Chinese anise, Illicium verum, star anise - small tree of China and Vietnam bearing anise-scented star-shaped fruit used in food and medicinally as a carminative