tamarind

noun

tam·​a·​rind ˈta-mə-rənd 

-ˌrind

1

: an African evergreen tree (Tamarindus indica) of the legume family that is widely grown in tropical regions and has hard yellowish wood, pinnate leaves, red-striped yellow flowers, and an edible fruit

2

: the fruit of the tamarind tree consisting of an oblong brown pod containing 1 to 12 flat seeds embedded in a brownish, sticky, acidic pulp which is used especially in preserves and pastes and to flavor foods and beverages

Illustration of tamarind

Examples of tamarind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tamarind brings this perfect tangy punch that balances the sweetness. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 22 Apr. 2025

Sundown has been marked by the distribution of dates, tamarind juice, and water bottles at busy street corners across the city. —Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2025

The restaurant is alcohol-free, but the turmeric tonic, tamarind cooler and strawberry milk go down nicely. —Kin Woo Gisela Williams Amy Conway Kate Maxwell, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

Home cooks with a passion for creating every element of a meal from scratch use the freezer to preserve tamarind chutney, sliced sourdough bread, and cubes of summer-bright pesto. —Meghan McCarron, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish & Portuguese tamarindo, from Arabic tamr hindī, literally, Indian date

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tamarind

noun

tam·​a·​rind ˈtam-ə-rənd 

-rind

: a tropical tree of the legume family that has hard yellowish wood, feathery leaves, and red-striped yellow flowers

also : its fruit which has a sour pulp used especially for preserves or as a seasoning in cooking

Medical Definition

tamarind

noun

tam·​a·​rind ˈtam-ə-rənd, -ˌrind 

1

: a tropical leguminous tree (Tamarindus indica) with hard yellowish wood and a fruit with an acid pulp

2

: the pulp of the partially dried ripe fruit of a tamarind used in herbal medicine especially for its laxative properties