vanilla
vanilla definition
va·nilla (və nil′ə)
noun
- any of a genus (Vanilla) of climbing tropical American orchids with fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers
- the podlike, immature capsule (vanilla bean) of some of these plants
- an extract of these capsules, used as a flavoring in cooking, confections, etc.
Etymology: ModL < Sp vainilla, small pod, husk, dim. of vaina, pod < L vagina, a case, pod, sheath
adjective
- of or flavored with vanilla vanilla ice cream
Etymology: in allusion to the commonness of vanilla ice cream
Informal bland, plain, or basic: used esp. in the phrase plain vanilla
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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