banana

[buh-nan-uh]

noun

1. a tropical plant of the genus Musa, certain species of which are cultivated for their nutritious fruit.

2. the fruit, especially that of M. paradisiaca, with yellow or reddish rind.

banana

/ bəˈnɑːnə /

noun

1. 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

2. the crescent-shaped fruit of any of these plants Compare plantain 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of banana¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of banana¹

C16: from Spanish or Portuguese, of African origin

Idioms and Phrases

• drive someone crazy (bananas)
• go bananas
• top banana

Example Sentences

The president has cut tariffs on grocery items like coffee, bananas, beef and avocados.

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When Atlanta officials began surveying the area, they could scarcely find a store that sold any fresh food other than the occasional banana.

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The exemptions covered other Ghanaian agricultural products including cashew nuts, avocados, bananas, mangoes, plantain, pineapples, coconuts, ginger and peppers, he said.

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“My own favorite,” Buddy tells us, “was a cold banana pudding—a guarded recipe of the ancient aunt” who took her secret to the grave.

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He slashed tariffs on imported foodstuffs such as bananas, despite the uncomfortable message that sends about what the other tariffs might be doing to prices.

Read more on Barron's

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