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 .

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