Main Entry: va·nil·la

Pronunciation: \və-ˈnil-ə, -ˈnel-\

Function: noun

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