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vanilla definition

va·nilla (və nilə)

noun

  1. any of a genus (Vanilla) of climbing tropical American orchids with fragrant, greenish-yellow flowers
  2. the podlike, immature capsule (vanilla bean) of some of these plants
  3. 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

  1. of or flavored with vanilla vanilla ice cream
  2. Etymology: in allusion to the commonness of vanilla ice cream

    Informal bland, plain, or basic: used esp. in the phrase plain vanilla

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