plantain¹ Definition
plan·tain (plan′tin)
noun
any of a genus (Plantago) of plants of the plantain family, usually with rosettes of basal leaves and spikes of tiny, greenish flowers, including many troublesome weeds
Etymology: OFr < L plantago < planta, sole of the foot (see plant): from the shape of the leaves
adjective
designating a family (Plantaginaceae, order Plantaginales) of dicotyledonous plants
plantain² Definition
plan·tain (plan′tin)
noun
- a hybrid banana plant (Musa × paradisiaca) that is widely cultivated in the Western Hemisphere
- the large, firm, curved fruit of this plant: in tropical areas, it is usually cooked while green, before the starch has converted into sugar
Etymology: altered (prob. infl. by plantain) < Sp plátano, banana tree, lit., plane tree (< L platanus: see plane), prob. misused for native name (as in Carib balatana)
plantain Usage Examples
Converse of object
- include: In addition the Spanish introduced many aspects of their own cuisine when passing through including plantains, ginger and oranges.
- do: Do plantains grow at random in the school field?
- peel: Peel the plantains and cut crossways into 3 pieces.
- float: Current status Floating water plantain is found only in Europe.
- find: Peter found plantain on the wicket and got his knife out to remove it.
Adjective modifier
- hoary: Pyramidal orchid, dwarf thistle, together with hoary plantain, a pretty relative of a common lawn weed, are seen.
- fried: Who does not like fried plantains, or a pattie, a crab salad, or Guinness punch?
- floating: It has the most prolific population in the UK of the floating water plantain; a rare plant which has legal protection.
- great: A large number of insects are found on greater plantain some of which feed on it.
- green: The beans are wrapped in large green plantain leaves to form envelopes.
- large: The beans are wrapped in large green plantain leaves to form envelopes.
Modifies a noun
- leave: Getting back to nature in style - elegant vegetarian meals are served on plantain leaves.
- chip: There are a couple of offerings for veggies, good plantain chips and fantastic African wines.
- leaf: Figure 3: Plantain leaf showing various stages of black sigatoka lesion development.
- slice: Add the plantain slices and leave for 20 minutes.
- salad: When I tucked into my starter, a plantain salad, my tastebuds gave a yelp of delight it was so novel an experience.
Noun used with modifier
- ribwort: Ribwort plantain seeds may germinate in the autumn of production or early the following year.
- buck's-horn: Among the short turf, fine grasses, sea plantain, buck's-horn plantain, sea pink and spring squill are prominent.
- sea: Among the short turf, fine grasses, sea plantain, buck's-horn plantain, sea pink and spring squill are prominent.
- water: Current status Floating water plantain is found only in Europe.
Browse dictionary entries near plantain
- ‹ Plantagenet
- ‹ plant louse
- ‹ plant hormone
- ‹ plant
- ‹ plans
- ‹ planosol
- ‹ planography
- ‹ plano-
- ‹ plano-convex
- ‹ plano-concave
- plantain lily ›
- plantar ›
- plantation ›
- planted ›
- planter ›
- planter's punch ›
- plantigrade ›
- planting ›
- planula ›
- plaque ›

