sarsaparilla

noun sar·sa·pa·ril·la \ˌsas-pə-ˈri-lə, ˌsärs-, -ˈre-; ˌsa-sə-, ˌsär-sə-\

: a sweetened drink that is flavored with a substance made from the root of a plant

Full Definition of SARSAPARILLA

a : any of various tropical American greenbriers

b : the dried roots of a sarsaparilla used especially as a flavoring

: any of various plants (as wild sarsaparilla) that resemble or are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla

: a sweetened carbonated beverage flavored with sassafras and oil distilled from a European birch

See sarsaparilla defined for English-language learners

See sarsaparilla defined for kids

Origin of SARSAPARILLA

Spanish zarzaparrilla, from zarza bush + parrilla, diminutive of parra vine

First Known Use: 1577

Rhymes with SARSAPARILLA

a cappella, Cinderella, citronella, columella, fraxinella, mortadella, mozzarella, panatela, salmonella, subumbrella, tarantella, villanella

SARSAPARILLA Defined for Kids

sarsaparilla

noun sar·sa·pa·ril·la \ˌsa-spə-ˈri-lə, ˌsär-\

Definition of SARSAPARILLA for Kids

: a sweetened carbonated beverage that tastes somewhat like root beer

Medical Dictionary

sarsaparilla

noun sar·sa·pa·ril·la \ˌsas-(ə-)pə-ˈril-ə, ˌsärs-, -ˈrel-\

Medical Definition of SARSAPARILLA

a : any of various tropical American plants of the genus Smilax b : any of various plants (as wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis) that resemble or are used as a substitute for the sarsaparillas

a : the dried roots of any of several sarsaparillas of the genus Smilax (especially S. aristolochiaefolia, S. febrifuga, and S. regelii) used now especially as a flavoring and formerly for the diaphoretic, expectorant, and laxative effects of the saponins found in them and without curative effect in the treatment of syphilis b : the roots of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) used similarly