annatto

[ uh-nat-oh, uh-nah-toh ]

noun,plural an·nat·tos.
  1. Also called lip·stick tree [lip-stik tree] /ˈlɪpˌstɪk ˌtri/ . a small tree, Bixa orellana, of tropical America.

  2. Also ar·nat·to [ahr-nat-oh, -nah-toh] /ɑrˈnæt oʊ, -ˈnɑ toʊ/ . a yellowish-red dye obtained from the pulp enclosing the seeds of this tree, used for coloring fabrics, butter, varnish, etc.

Origin of annatto

1
Borrowed into English from Carib around 1675–85
  • Sometimes a·nat·to .

Words Nearby annatto

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How to use annatto in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for annatto

annatto

anatto

/ (əˈnætəʊ) /


nounplural -tos
  1. a small tropical American tree, Bixa orellana, having red or pinkish flowers and pulpy seeds that yield a dye: family Bixaceae

  2. the yellowish-red dye obtained from the pulpy outer layer of the coat of the seeds of this tree, used for colouring fabrics, butter, varnish, etc

Origin of annatto

1
from Carib

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