banana
[ buh-nan-uh ]
/ bəˈnæn ə /
noun
a tropical plant of the genus Musa, certain species of which are cultivated for their nutritious fruit.
Compare banana family.
the fruit, especially that of M. paradisiaca, with yellow or reddish rind.
Origin of banana
1590–1600; < Spanish < Portuguese (perhaps via Sp); akin to various words for banana or plantain in WAfr languages (e.g., Wolof, Malinke
banana, Vai (Mande language of Liberia)
bana), but ultimate source and direction of borrowing uncertain
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH banana
banana plantain1Words nearby banana
banach space,
banak,
banal,
banality,
banalize,
banana,
banana belt,
banana bender,
banana family,
banana oil,
banana plug
Example sentences from the Web for banana
British Dictionary definitions for banana
banana
/ (bəˈnɑːnə) /
noun
any of several tropical and subtropical herbaceous treelike plants of the musaceous genus Musa, esp M. sapientum, a widely cultivated species propagated from suckers and having hanging clusters of edible fruit
the crescent-shaped fruit of any of these plants
Compare plantain 2
Word Origin for banana
C16: from Spanish or Portuguese, of African origin
Idioms and Phrases with banana
banana