any of various tropical and mostly climbing shrubs with aromatic leaves; esp one with berries from which black pepper and white pepper are prepared: genus Piper
the ground black or white powder obtained from the peppercorns of this shrub these shrubs
a hot pepper or sweet pepper
(used with a qualifying term) any of various products similar to pepper; esp a pungent condiment obtained from capsicums
cayenne pepper
= sweet pepper
= hot pepper
a capsicum whose fruits are hot peppers or sweet peppers
peppery adj
[Old English pipor via a prehistoric Germanic word from Latin piper, ultimately from Sanskrit pippalī peppercorn, berry]