tamarind
Americannoun
-
tamarinds
plural
-
the pod of a large, tropical tree, Tamarindus indica, of the legume family, containing seeds enclosed in a juicy acid pulp that is used in beverages and food.
-
the tree itself.
noun
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a leguminous tropical evergreen tree, Tamarindus indica, having pale yellow red-streaked flowers and brown pulpy pods, each surrounded by a brittle shell
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the acid fruit of this tree, used as a food and to make beverages and medicines
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the wood of this tree
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tamarind
1525–35; < Medieval Latin tamarindus ≪ Arabic tamr hindī literally, Indian date
Vocabulary lists containing tamarind
English Food and Drink Words Derived from Arabic
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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Southeast Asia - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I started with hamachi topped with Asian pear and serrano, finished tableside with a tamarind ponzu.
From Salon ● Mar. 7, 2026
"One cannot expect mangoes from a tamarind tree," he says.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026
By the time you’re invited to nibble the pulp off seeds straight from a tamarind pod, a palate cleanser before dessert, you may have forgotten that the island you’re on is Manhattan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
She immediately earned accolades, and not just for beers with Mexican flavors — tamarind, Mexican chocolate, chile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2024
We filled glasses with the snow clumping on the fire escape then poured tamarind syrup on it to make piraguas Brooklyn-style.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
He preferred oranges and tamarinds, feasting at every opportunity on tropical fruit after three awful weeks at sea.
From New York Times ● Jan. 3, 2024
Up to 12 kinds are being planted, from palms and tamarinds to kapoks and lemon trees - the varieties depend on the needs of the community and the terrain.
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2022
She apprenticed herself, learning to turn jars in the sun so the fruit dried evenly and to combine new and old tamarinds to balance out their acidity levels.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2020
She apprenticed herself, learning to turn jars in the sun so the fruit dried evenly, and to combine new and old tamarinds to balance out their acidity levels.
From New York Times ● Jan. 6, 2020
She wants me to decide which one I want, then let the other one go eat tamarinds.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
