vanilla

[vuh-nil-uh, -nel-uh]

noun

1. any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, especially V. planifolia, bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food, in perfumery, etc.

2. Also called vanilla bean. the fruit or bean of this orchid.

3. the extract of this fruit.

adjective

1. containing or flavored with vanilla.

   vanilla custard.

2. Informal.,  plain vanilla.

vanilla

/ vəˈnɪlə /

noun

1. any tropical climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla, esp V. plonifolia, having spikes of large fragrant greenish-yellow flowers and long fleshy pods containing the seeds (beans)

2. the pod or bean of certain of these plants, used to flavour food, etc

3. a flavouring extract prepared from vanilla beans and used in cooking

adjective

1. flavoured with or as if with vanilla

   vanilla ice cream

2. slang,  ordinary or conventional

   a vanilla kind of guy

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanilla¹

1655–65; < New Latin < Spanish vainilla little pod, equivalent to vain ( a ) a sheath (< Latin vāgīna sheath) + -illa diminutive suffix (< LL)

Word History and Origins

Origin of vanilla¹

C17: from New Latin, from Spanish vainilla pod, from vaina a sheath, from Latin vāgīna sheath

Example Sentences

Stack ladyfingers with whole-berry cranberry sauce, vanilla pudding, and whipped cream flecked with a decidedly ungodly amount of orange zest.

Read more on Salon

They brought fruit or salad, along with cherry pies and vanilla ice cream.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That February, Tenev told Congress that the “pattern day traders” at the center of that market chaos represented just 2% of Robinhood’s customer base, and that most were long-term investors buying plain vanilla products.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Cardamom has always been expensive, usually the third costliest spice by weight, after saffron and vanilla.

Read more on BBC

“That is a remarkable flavor. It is not quite chocolate, not quite vanilla, not quite caramel, but somehow the best of all three mixed together, and with a hint of butterscotch, too.”

Read more on Literature