banana

noun, ba·nana often attributive \bə-ˈna-nə, especially British -ˈnä-\

: a long curved fruit with a thick peel that is yellow when it is ripe

Full Definition of BANANA

: an elongated usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usually yellow rind

: any of several widely cultivated perennial herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches

See banana defined for English-language learners

See banana defined for kids

Illustration of BANANA

Origin of BANANA

Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banaana banana

First Known Use: 1597

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with BANANA

bandanna, cabana, Diana, Fermanagh, goanna, Guiana, Guyana, hosanna, Montana, savanna, Savannah, sultana

BANANA Defined for Kids

banana

noun ba·nana \bə-ˈna-nə\

Definition of BANANA for Kids

: a fruit that is shaped somewhat like a finger, is usually yellow when ripe, and grows in bunches on a large treelike tropical plant with very large leaves