tamarind

American  

[tam-uh-rind] / ˈtæm ə rɪnd /

noun

1. 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.

2. the tree itself.

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tamarind British  

/ ˈtæmərɪnd /

noun

1. a leguminous tropical evergreen tree, Tamarindus indica, having pale yellow red-streaked flowers and brown pulpy pods, each surrounded by a brittle shell

2. the acid fruit of this tree, used as a food and to make beverages and medicines

3. the wood of this tree

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Etymology

Origin of tamarind

1525–35; < Medieval Latin tamarindus ≪ Arabic tamr hindī literally, Indian date

Example Sentences

"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

Hardly a week goes by without using saffron, turmeric, pomegranate molasses, tamarind, cinnamon, or sumac in my cooking.

From Salon • Sep. 15, 2024

Ice on the house on Palmas Street, ice on the tamarind tree, ice coating the ships on the dock and the sparrows in midflight.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García