star anise

Noun

• anise-scented star-shaped fruit or seed used in Asian cooking and medicine

• small shrubby tree of Japan and Taiwan; flowers are not fragrant

• small tree of China and Vietnam bearing anise-scented star-shaped fruit used in food and medicinally as a carminative

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  Chinese anise , star aniseed , Illicium anisatum , Illicium verum