Definition of banana
1 : an elongated usually tapering tropical fruit with soft pulpy flesh enclosed in a soft usually yellow rind a bunch of bananas slipped on a banana peel
2 botany : any of several widely cultivated perennial herbs (genus Musa of the family Musaceae, the banana family) bearing bananas in compact pendent bunches a hammock slung between two banana trees
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of banana from the Web
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The bananas were found around the university’s campus the same day that Taylor Dumpson, a black woman, started her tenure as the first black female president of the university’s student government body.
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These starchy relatives of our sweet-snack bananas are tasty when fried, roasted and, in this case, smashed with garlic and cannabis oil.
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In fact, Huntsman spiders are sometimes called banana spiders for their propensity to appear on their namesake fruit shipments.
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Breakfast is Greek yogurt, string cheese, a banana and coffee.
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So, zucchini banana bread becomes...blueberry pancakes?
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The incident comes weeks after someone hung bananas with racist messages from nooses at several locations at American University.
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The incident comes weeks after someone hung bananas with racist messages from nooses at several locations at American University.
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At Subway: Turkey Breast Sub A Subway meal for Khloé means a 6-inch turkey breast sandwich served on a 9-grain bun with Swiss cheese, banana peppers, cucumbers, green peppers, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, avocado, and vinegar dressing.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'banana'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of banana
Origin and Etymology of banana
Spanish or Portuguese; Spanish, from Portuguese, of African origin; akin to Wolof banaana banana
First Known Use: 1597
BANANA Defined for English Language Learners
banana
playDefinition of banana for English Language Learners
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: a long curved fruit with a thick peel that is yellow when it is ripe
BANANA Defined for Kids
banana
playDefinition of banana for Students
: a fruit that is shaped somewhat like a finger, is usually yellow when ripe, and grows in bunches on a large treelike tropical plant with very large leaves
Learn More about banana
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See words that rhyme with banana Spanish Central: Translation of banana Nglish: Translation of banana for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of banana for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about banana
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