: the coumarin-containing seed of any of several tropical American leguminous trees (genus Dipteryx, especially D. odorata) that is used in perfumes and as an artificial vanilla flavoring
also
: a tree bearing tonka beans
Examples of tonka bean in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With peppy opening notes spliced with mandarin orange, Coco Mademoiselle has a heart of jasmine and rose and a creamy, woody base of tonka bean, vanilla, patchouli, vetiver, and white musk.
—
Jenny Berg, Allure, 20 Apr. 2025
Lightning strikes have also been shown to damage neighboring trees with which the tonka bean tree may be competing for resources, leaving the former unscathed, researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
Sweet floral Notes: Lavender blossom, vanilla orchid, blonde woods
Sizes: 1.7 oz, 0.34 oz.
Scent Family: Gourmand
Notes: Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean, heliotrope
Sizes: 3.4 oz., 2 oz., 1.7 oz.
—Mary Honkus, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2025
Black cherry offers the perfect pinch of brightness with depth, and it is layered in this scent alongside almond, tonka bean, and rose.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tonka bean
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Jenny Berg, Allure, 20 Apr. 2025
Lightning strikes have also been shown to damage neighboring trees with which the tonka bean tree may be competing for resources, leaving the former unscathed, researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
Sweet floral Notes: Lavender blossom, vanilla orchid, blonde woods
Sizes: 1.7 oz, 0.34 oz.
Scent Family: Gourmand
Notes: Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean, heliotrope
Sizes: 3.4 oz., 2 oz., 1.7 oz.
—Mary Honkus, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2025
Black cherry offers the perfect pinch of brightness with depth, and it is layered in this scent alongside almond, tonka bean, and rose.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tonka bean
Cite this Entry
“Tonka bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonka%20bean. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
tonka bean
noun
ton·ka bean
ˈtäŋ-kə- 
: the seed of any of several leguminous trees of the genus Dipteryx that contains coumarin and is used in perfumes and as a flavoring
also
: a tree bearing tonka beans
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