vanilla

¹va·nil·la

noun \və-ˈni-lə, -ˈne-\

Definition of VANILLA

1

a : vanilla bean

b : a commercially important extract of the vanilla bean that is used especially as a flavoring

2

: any of a genus (Vanilla) of tropical American climbing epiphytic orchids

Examples of VANILLA

1. The frosting is flavored with vanilla.

Origin of VANILLA

New Latin, from Spanish vainilla vanilla (plant and fruit), diminutive of vaina sheath, from Latin vagina sheath, vagina

First Known Use: 1662

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with VANILLA

ancilla, Anguilla, Aquila, Attila, axilla, cabrilla, cedilla, chinchilla, Comilla, flotilla, gorilla, guerrilla, hydrilla, manila, Manila, mantilla, maxilla, megillah, papilla, perilla, scintilla

²vanilla

adjective

Definition of VANILLA

1

: flavored with vanilla

2

: lacking distinction : plain, ordinary, conventional

Examples of VANILLA

1. The décor is pretty vanilla.
2. <a plain vanilla version of a song that's been recorded more times than necessary>

First Known Use of VANILLA

1846

Related to VANILLA

Synonyms

beige, characterless, faceless, featureless, indistinctive, neutral, noncommital, nondescript

Related Words

boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, flat, humdrum, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, stodgy, stuffy, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying

Near Antonyms

arresting, bold, catchy, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, showy, splashy, striking

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with VANILLA

Capella, chlorella, favela, glabella, lamella, Mandela, nigella, novella, paella, patella, predella, prunella, quiniela, rubella, sequela, umbrella

va·nil·la

noun \və-ˈnil-ə, -ˈnel-\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of VANILLA

1

a : vanilla bean b : a commercially important extract of the vanilla bean that is prepared by soaking comminuted vanilla beans in water and ethyl alcohol and that is used especially as a flavoring (as in pharmaceutical preparations)

2

: any of a genus (Vanilla) of tropical American climbing orchids

vanilla

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any member of a group of tropical climbing orchids that make up the genus Vanilla, and the flavouring agent extracted from its seedpods. The plant has a long, fleshy climbing stem that attaches itself by aerial rootlets to trees; roots also penetrate the soil. Numerous flowers open a few at a time and last only a day. The fruit, a bean pod about 8 in. (20 cm) long at maturity, is harvested as soon as it turns golden green at the base. Curing and processing turn the pods a deep chocolate brown. Vanilla is used in a variety of sweet foods and beverages as well as in perfumery.