banana

UK: bəˈnɑːnə | US: bəˈnænə

Definition

  1. n. a long curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft sweet flesh

  2. n. the tropical treelike plant that bears this fruit

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word "banana" entered English in the late 16th century from Spanish/Portuguese, which borrowed it from Wolof (banaana), a West African language. Unlike Indo-European words, it retains its monolithic structure as a loanword. Its spelling and meaning have remained stable, reflecting the fruit’s tropical origin and global trade history.

Examples

  1. She peeled the banana and ate it for breakfast.

  2. Banana plants thrive in humid climates.

  3. The smoothie recipe calls for one frozen banana.

  4. He slipped on a discarded banana peel.

  5. Exporting bananas is vital to this country’s economy.