anise oil
- noun
- /ˈænɪs ɔɪl/
- Many candies and liqueurs are flavored with anise oil for its distinct taste.
Examples
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Pharmacists sometimes use anise oil in cough syrups for its expectorant properties.
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Add a few drops of anise oil to the recipe.
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The strong aroma of anise oil makes it popular in aromatherapy.
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I love the smell of anise oil.
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The chef added anise oil to the sauce for a unique flavor that reminded everyone of licorice.
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In baking, a few drops of anise oil can enhance the sweetness of cookies and pastries.
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She used anise oil as a natural remedy to soothe her upset stomach.
Synonyms
A strong oil used to flavor food that tastes like licorice
A strong-smelling oil from small seeds used to flavor food and soothe stomachs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: it denotes the oil extracted from anise (the plant/seeds), so a learner who knows 'anise' and 'oil' can infer this meaning. The noun+oil pattern is a common, transparent formation across languages and follows regular English compounding, making it predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Anise oil comes from the small seeds of the anise plant, which are pressed to make a fragrant oil with a 'liquorice-like' smell. That's why people use it to add taste and aroma to sweets, drinks and medicines.