banana

[ buh-nan-uh ]

noun

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

In addition to the idiom beginning with banana , also see drive someone crazy (bananas) ; go bananas ; top banana .

Example Sentences

They include pandemic classics — banana bread and dalgona coffee, our old friends — but also some favorite dishes I didn’t get a chance to peek into the kitchen and watch Sammy or Melenda make on visits to Top Taste.

From Eater

She tossed in longganisa, a spiced Filipino sausage, as part of a Bolognese sauce that comes together on a base of banana ketchup, a common condiment in Southeast Asia.

From Washington Blade

He began experimenting with various natural fabrics such as banana, hemp, bamboo and aloe vera.

From Ozy

They might scream banana, banana, banana over and over and over again.

From Digiday

Experts like Popescu and Casanova have focused on harm reduction — the same philosophy that leads thousands of American gym teachers to demonstrate putting condoms on bananas.

From FiveThirtyEight

These are young fathers, rural farmers, usually growing banana or coffee or subsistence crops.

From The Daily Beast

Read on to find out what you need to know before whipping up bug-infused banana bread.

From The Daily Beast

Trista goes about making the shake, mashing up a banana, adding cherry syrup, a bit of milk, and soft-serve ice cream.

From The Daily Beast

She also recommends the banana split shake: strawberry, chocolate, and a mashed banana.

From The Daily Beast

“You have to try my cherry banana shake,” waitress Trista says.

From The Daily Beast

The broad veranda was shaded by a clump of tall banana-trees, swaying to and fro in the gentle breeze.

From Project Gutenberg

The plant from which is made what is called Manila hemp belongs to the same family as the banana and the plantain.

From Project Gutenberg

The next time the fruit disappeared, I found a banana all smashed up in Kari's pavilion.

From Project Gutenberg

Down in the court a silvery fountain played among palms and banana trees.

From Project Gutenberg

Beyond the door was a banana tree, with ten-foot leaves, and a little black monkey loping around under it, sort of indifferent.

From Project Gutenberg

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