What does masala mean in Indian cuisine?

Masala is the Hindi word for spice. It can also be used to refer to a blend of spices which can be dry spices or a combination of dry and fresh ingredients (masala sauce or masala paste) used to flavor a dish. Indian spices are key to authentic Indian cuisine. Indian cuisine is very varied and diverse despite being often clumped together as a bunch of “curries.”

Source: Some Indian Girl