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