herb

/hɜːb/noun

A leafy green plant, or its leaves, used to add flavor to cooking.

Example sentences

“She grows herbs like basil and mint on her kitchen windowsill.”
“Add the fresh herbs at the end so they keep their flavor.”

The h splits the English-speaking world: Americans say 'erb', Britons say 'herb', and each finds the other odd. Herbs are leaves; spices come from seeds, bark, and roots.

food

Often confused with herb

herb vs spice: spice (noun): A dried part of a plant with a strong smell or taste, added to food for flavor.

Related words

garlicA plant in the onion family whose strong-smelling bulb is widely used to flavor food.onionA round vegetable of the garlic family, made of strong-smelling layers, eaten cooked or raw and used to flavour food.gravyA rich sauce made from the juices and fat that meat or vegetables release while cooking.pepperA sharp-tasting spice made from the dried, fermented, unripe berries of the pepper plant.sauceA liquid or semi-liquid food served with a dish to add flavour or moisture.sugarA sweet crystalline substance made from sugar cane or sugar beet and added to food and drinks.