banyan

noun ban·yan \ ˈban-yən , -ˌyan \

Definition of banyan

plural banyans

: a large fig tree (Ficus benghalensis) native to India and Pakistan that starts as an epiphyte and has spreading branches which send out aerial roots that grow down to the ground and form secondary trunks around the host tree

The banyan kills the host tree by preventing its trunk from growing. After the host dies, the banyan continues to grow. Eventually, one tree appears to be an entire forest.
—National Geographic World

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Recent Examples of banyan from the Web

Start at the banyan and wander north on Front Street (there's a large public-parking lot at Front and Prison streets).

— brian j. cantwell, chicagotribune.com, "Rainy day on Maui? Here are 5 great things to do beyond the beach," 24 Apr. 2018
Although none of the foreigners lolling beneath the banyan trees and royal palms recognize him, a ripple of excitement passes through the Cubans, who nudge each other, smile and stare.

— néstor martí, Smithsonian, "The Man Who Saved Havana," 18 Apr. 2018
Naples Botanical Garden What do towering bamboos, crepe myrtle, jack fruit banyan trees, orange bromeliads and bougainvillea have in common?

— New York Times, "6 Great Gardens to Visit in Florida," 16 Feb. 2018
However, the loss of a beautiful oak, banyan or ficus tree is typically not enough in itself to allow a buyer to walk away from the transaction without losing the deposit.

— richard l. barbara and bradley l. barreto, miamiherald, "How does hurricane damage affect residential closings for home buyers and sellers? | Miami Herald," 29 Oct. 2017
The banyan tree’s branches are strung with thousands of colorful lights, and crowds gather to stroll the park or just to stare (craft festivals take place beneath its canopy, too).

— cassie shortsleeve, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Have a White Christmas in Hawaii," 13 Dec. 2017
Different trees have different frequencies: Some palms get trimmed twice a year; for banyans, it’s every 12-24 months; while oaks, mahoganies and black olives get trimmed every 3-5 years.

— linda robertson, miamiherald, "We lost our trees. We lost our power. Now, who can we blame for not trimming the trees?," 21 Sep. 2017
Bar-Ness knows more about the magnitude of giant banyans than just about anyone.

— chiara goia, Smithsonian, "The Biggest Tree Canopy on the Planet Stretches Across Nearly Five Acres," 29 Apr. 2017
As a sacred banyan tree, however, villagers continue to worship Bunot Bolong.

— agatha french, latimes.com, "The book 'Wise Trees' showcases ancient trees from around the world," 19 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'banyan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of banyan

Origin and Etymology 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

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First Known Use: 1638

in the meaning defined above

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