Annatto Definition

ənätō, änätō
annattos
noun
A tropical American evergreen shrub or small tree (Bixa orellana), having heart-shaped leaves and showy, rose-pink or sometimes white flowers.
American Heritage
A dye of reddish yellow made from the pulp around the seeds of a tropical dicotyledonous tree (Bixa orellana, family Bixaceae): it is used for coloring butter, cheese, varnishes, etc.
Webster's New World
The seed of this plant, used as a coloring and sometimes as a flavoring, especially in Latin American cuisine.
American Heritage
A yellowish-red dyestuff obtained from the arils of this plant's seeds, used especially to dye fabric and to color food products such as margarine and cheese.
American Heritage

(countable) A tropical American evergreen shrub, Bixa orellana; the lipstick tree; the fruit of the tree.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Annatto

Noun

Singular:
annatto
Plural:
annattos

Origin of Annatto

  • Of Cariban origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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