: a climbing pepper (Piper betle) of southeastern Asia whose leaves are chewed together with betel nut and mineral lime as a stimulant masticatory
Examples of betel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Efforts to deny the indigenous peoples of the Andes access to coca, as Smithsonian anthropologist Catherine Allen has written, are not analogous to outlawing, for example, beer in Germany, coffee in the Middle East, or betel chewing in India.
—
Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Our favorites include Alphonso mango; meetha paan, a sweet digestive wrapped in betel leaves; gulab jamun and blueberry lavender.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Standout dishes at Jaks include: Banarasi Paan Patta - The fried betel leaf adds a crispy, earthy element, while the rose yogurt and tamarind provide a sweet and tangy contrast.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
Pham wraps ground lamb in peppery betel leaves and serves the dish with rice noodles, baskets of lettuce, and enough toppings to fuel a feast that shows no signs of slowing down.
—Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 9 Sep. 2024
For generations, the community has cultivated betel vines in shaded plots and fished in water bodies scattered across the forested area.
—Sarita Santoshini, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 June 2023
It is traditionally chewed with an alkaline ingredient, similar to tobacco chewing in the Americas and betel chewing in parts of Asia.
—Gideon Lasco, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2020
Local media report that three paan stores, selling a betel leaf and nut combination that is chewed for its stimulant effect, have been closed to prevent consumers spitting out the remains, plastering walls and sidewalks with unsightly stains.
—Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, 20 Feb. 2020
In the same vein, it was earlier reported that local paan shops (betel vendors) were shut down, but the local administration in Ahmedabad denied any such move.
—Manavi Kapur, Quartz India, 20 Feb. 2020
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Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
Our favorites include Alphonso mango; meetha paan, a sweet digestive wrapped in betel leaves; gulab jamun and blueberry lavender.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025
Standout dishes at Jaks include: Banarasi Paan Patta - The fried betel leaf adds a crispy, earthy element, while the rose yogurt and tamarind provide a sweet and tangy contrast.
—Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024
Pham wraps ground lamb in peppery betel leaves and serves the dish with rice noodles, baskets of lettuce, and enough toppings to fuel a feast that shows no signs of slowing down.
—Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 9 Sep. 2024
For generations, the community has cultivated betel vines in shaded plots and fished in water bodies scattered across the forested area.
—Sarita Santoshini, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 June 2023
It is traditionally chewed with an alkaline ingredient, similar to tobacco chewing in the Americas and betel chewing in parts of Asia.
—Gideon Lasco, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2020
Local media report that three paan stores, selling a betel leaf and nut combination that is chewed for its stimulant effect, have been closed to prevent consumers spitting out the remains, plastering walls and sidewalks with unsightly stains.
—Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, 20 Feb. 2020
In the same vein, it was earlier reported that local paan shops (betel vendors) were shut down, but the local administration in Ahmedabad denied any such move.
—Manavi Kapur, Quartz India, 20 Feb. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Betel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betel. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
betel
noun
be·tel
ˈbēt-ᵊl 
: a climbing pepper of southeastern Asia whose dried leaves are chewed together with betel nut and lime to increase the activity of the nervous system
Medical Definition
betel
noun
be·tel
ˈbēt-ᵊl
: a climbing pepper (Piper betle) of southeastern Asia whose leaves are chewed together with betel nut and mineral lime as a stimulant masticatory
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