Allspice - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Allspice : (noun)
1: aromatic West Indian tree that produces allspice berries [syn: allspice tree, pimento tree, Pimenta dioica]
2: deciduous shrubs having aromatic bark; eastern China; southwestern and eastern United States
3: ground dried berrylike fruit of a West Indian allspice tree; suggesting combined flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg and cloves

Based on WordNet 2.0

Allspice : \All"spice`\, n. The berry of the pimento ({Eugenia pimenta), a tree of the West Indies; a spice of a mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aromatic; Jamaica pepper; pimento. It has been supposed to combine the flavor of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves; and hence the name. The name is also given to other aromatic Carolina_allspice_({Calycanthus_floridus">shrubs; as, the Carolina allspice ({Calycanthus floridus); wild_allspice_({Lindera_benzoin">wild allspice ({Lindera benzoin), called also spicebush, spicewood, and feverbush.

Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)