tamarind

noun tam·a·rind \ ˈta-mə-rənd , -ˌrind \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of tamarind

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

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Recent Examples of tamarind from the Web

The ice comes doused in syrups of every fruit flavor — strawberry, pineapple, coconut; guava, lucuma, tamarind.

— devra first, BostonGlobe.com, "In search of brain freeze," 21 May 2018
Prosciutto and honeydew melon are tossed with candied hazelnuts and mint leaves in a lime, tamarind and fish-sauce dressing.

— New York Times, "Red-Sauce Italian Cooking Finds a Future at Don Angie," 29 May 2018
The millet grains puffed up and became crunchy in the hot oil, providing a crisp contrast to the soft meat; tahini and tamarind dipping sauces added a juicy touch.

— anissa helou, Bon Appetit, "The Camel Trek: In Search of an Unexpected Delicacy," 4 May 2018
Head to La Vaca for margaritas by the pitcher with flavors like mango, passion fruit and tamarind.

— shelbie lynn bostedt, RedEye Chicago, "Where to find your new favorite margarita in Chicago," 4 May 2017
For a meal with a little Latin flair, duck into the chic and trendy Tequila 61 for king salmon tacos garnished with crispy fried onions, pineapple and chipotle tamarind sauce.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Searching for Anchorage’s finest bites? Think seafood," 2 May 2018
In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, sesame oil, soy sauce, honey and tamarind paste.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: Ceviche Nikkei," 25 Apr. 2018
Made with dates and tamarind paste, along with tomatoes, onions, cherry peppers, garlic, and white vinegar, Basbaas’s version is slightly sweet and smoky, with a gentle, warming heat that shouldn’t scare off the spice-averse.

— aliza abarbanel, Bon Appetit, "5 Healthy Store-Bought Sauces that Make Weeknight Cooking WAY Chill," 19 Mar. 2018
The cocktail list is worth a look too; consider the Tainted Tonic, mixed with ginger vodka and tamarind.

— jo rodgers, Vogue, "The Best No-Reservation Restaurants for London Fashion Week," 17 Feb. 2018

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