banyan

3 ENTRIES FOUND:

ban·yan

noun \ˈban-yən, -yan\

Definition of BANYAN

: an East Indian fig tree (Ficus benghalensis) of the mulberry family with branches that send out roots which grow down to the soil and form secondary trunks

Illustration of BANYAN

Origin of BANYAN

earlier banyan Gujarati trader, from Portuguese banean, probably from Tamil vāniyan trader, from Sanskrit vāṇija; from a tree of the species in Iran under which such traders conducted business
First Known Use: 1634

Rhymes with BANYAN

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: banyan day
Previous Word in the Dictionary: banxring
All Words Near: banyan

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up banyan? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

Get Our Free Apps

Voice Search, Favorites,
Word of the Day, and More

iPhone | iPad | Android | More