vanilla
[ vuh-nil-uh or, often, -nel-uh ]
/ vəˈnɪl ə or, often, -ˈnɛl ə /
noun
any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, especially V. planifolia, bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food, in perfumery, etc.
Also called vanilla bean.
the fruit or bean of this orchid.
the extract of this fruit.
adjective
containing or flavored with vanilla: vanilla custard.
Informal.
plain-vanilla.
Origin of vanilla
1655–65; < New Latin < Spanish
vainilla little pod, equivalent to
vain(a) a sheath (< Latin
vāgīna sheath) +
-illa diminutive suffix (< LL)
Words nearby vanilla
vanga shrike,
vanguard,
vanguardism,
vanhal,
vanier,
vanilla,
vanilla plant,
vanillic,
vanillin,
vanillism,
vanillylmandelic acid
British Dictionary definitions for vanilla bean
vanilla
/ (vəˈnɪlə) /
noun
any tropical climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, esp V. plonifolia, having spikes of large fragrant greenish-yellow flowers and long fleshy pods containing the seeds (beans)
the pod or bean of certain of these plants, used to flavour food, etc
a flavouring extract prepared from vanilla beans and used in cooking
adjective
flavoured with or as if with vanilla
vanilla ice cream
slang
ordinary or conventional
a vanilla kind of guy
Word Origin for vanilla
C17: from New Latin, from Spanish
vainilla pod, from
vaina a sheath, from Latin
vāgīna sheath
Medical definitions for vanilla bean
vanilla
[ və-nĭl′ə ]
n.
Any of various tropical American vines of the genus Vanilla, especially V. planifolia, cultivated for its long narrow seedpods from which a flavoring agent is obtained.
The seedpod of this plant.
vanilla bean
A flavoring extract prepared from the cured seedpods of this plant or produced synthetically.
adj.
Flavored with vanilla.