SARSAPARILLA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sarsaparilla mean? 

• SARSAPARILLA (noun)
  The noun SARSAPARILLA has 2 senses:

1. any of various prickly climbing plants of the tropical American genus Smilax having aromatic roots and heart-shaped leaves

2. carbonated drink flavored with an extract from sarsaparilla root or with birch oil and sassafras

  Familiarity information: SARSAPARILLA used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SARSAPARILLA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various prickly climbing plants of the tropical American genus Smilax having aromatic roots and heart-shaped leaves

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("sarsaparilla" is a kind of...):

vine (a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface)

Meronyms (parts of "sarsaparilla"):

sarsaparilla root (dried root of any of various plants of the genus Smilax used as a flavoring agent)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sarsaparilla"):

rough bindweed; Smilax aspera (creeping or climbing evergreen having spiny zigzag stems with shiny leaves and racemes of pale-green flowers; Canary Islands to southern Europe and Ethiopia and India)

Holonyms ("sarsaparilla" is a member of...):

genus Smilax; Smilax (sometimes placed in Smilacaceae)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Carbonated drink flavored with an extract from sarsaparilla root or with birch oil and sassafras

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("sarsaparilla" is a kind of...):

soft drink (nonalcoholic beverage (usually carbonated))

Meronyms (substance of "sarsaparilla"):

sarsaparilla root (dried root of any of various plants of the genus Smilax used as a flavoring agent)