noun
sarsaparilla
sahs-puh-RIH-luh
noun
1
A tropical vine with fragrant roots, traditionally used to flavour drinks and folk remedies.
"The roots of sarsaparilla were once brewed as a tonic."
2
A sweet, root-flavoured soft drink similar to root beer.
"He ordered a cold glass of sarsaparilla at the old-fashioned soda counter."
How to Use Sarsaparilla
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA plant used to flavour an old-fashioned soft drink similar to root beer.
Common pairings
sarsaparilla root
glass of sarsaparilla
Word Forms
sarsaparillas plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “sarsaparilla”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The roots of _____ were once brewed as a tonic.
Etymology
From Spanish "zarzaparrilla," likely combining a Basque-derived word for "bramble" with "parrilla" ("little vine").