plantain

¹ American  

[plan-tin, -tn] / ˈplæn tɪn, -tn /

noun

1. a tropical plant, Musa paradisiaca, of the banana family, resembling the banana.

2. its fruit, eaten cooked as a staple food in tropical regions.

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plantain ² American  

[plan-tin, -tn] / ˈplæn tɪn, -tn /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Plantago, especially P. major, a weed with large, spreading leaves close to the ground and long, slender spikes of small flowers.

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plantain ¹ British  

/ ˈplæntɪn /

noun

1. a large tropical musaceous plant, Musa paradisiaca

2. the green-skinned banana-like fruit of this plant, eaten as a staple food in many tropical regions

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plantain ² British  

/ ˈplæntɪn /

noun

1. any of various N temperate plants of the genus Plantago, esp P. major ( great plantain ), which has a rosette of broad leaves and a slender spike of small greenish flowers: family Plantaginaceae See also ribwort

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Etymology

Origin of plantain¹

1545–55; earlier pla ( n ) tan < Spanish plá ( n ) tano plantain, also plane tree < Medieval Latin pla ( n ) tanus, Latin platanus plane ³

Origin of plantain²

1350–1400; Middle English plauntein < Old French plantein < Latin plantāgin- (stem of plantāgō ), derivative of planta sole of the foot, literally, something flat and spread out, like the broad leaf of the plantain; akin to Greek platýs flat ¹; see platy-

Explanation

A plantain is a fruit that resembles a banana and is almost always cooked. Fried plantains are delicious. Plantains are very starchy, green, and not as sweet as bananas. The word plantain can describe a specific, weedy plant, but it's also used more loosely for any bananas or banana-type fruits that are cooked rather than eaten raw. Plantains are made into sweet drinks, chips, snacks, soups, dumplings, and many more dishes. Plantain comes from the Spanish plátano, "banana."

Example Sentences

The Plantain Tarte Tantin is definitely a project, but I think it’s a fun one.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2024

Shortly after, his mother brought out some plates of Jollof, Plantain, fried fish, and my new favorite, Egusi.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2023

Plantain comes out just before hay fever season and goes to seed shortly afterwards, and is a common in the cracks of city pavements and lawns as it is in the countryside.

From The Guardian • Sep. 21, 2017

DFA co-founder Tyler Brodie “had just inherited money,” he says, and then his father, “who had a lot more money … bought the Plantain building with the intention of giving it to me.”

From Slate • Jun. 23, 2017

I turn—everbody turn—and there’s Jessup, Plantain Fidelia’s grandson, standing in the doorway.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett