Banana Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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banana
[bəˈnɑːnə ]
Definition
tropical fruit
A long curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft, sweet flesh, typically eaten raw.
Synonyms
fruit, plantain, tropical fruit.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| banana |
Commonly used to refer to the yellow fruit that is sweet and commonly eaten fresh or used in desserts. It is a popular snack and is often found in breakfast foods like cereal or pancakes.
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| plantain |
Refers to a type of banana that is starchy and less sweet, often used in cooking. Plantains are used in savory dishes and are popular in Latin American, Caribbean, and African cuisines.
|
| fruit |
A general term used to describe edible, sweet, and fleshy products of a tree or plant. It can refer to many kinds of produce including apples, oranges, and bananas. This word is used when talking about healthy eating, available snacks, or shopping lists.
|
| tropical fruit |
Used to describe fruits that grow in tropical climates. This term encompasses a variety of fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and papayas. It is often used when talking about exotic flavors or vacation experiences.
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Examples of usage
- Would you like a banana with your breakfast?
- She packed a banana in her lunch bag.
- The monkeys in the jungle love to eat bananas.
- I always add sliced bananas to my cereal in the morning.
- We bought a bunch of bananas at the grocery store.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Culinary
- Bananas are versatile in cooking; they can be eaten raw, cooked, used in smoothies, or baked in desserts.
- They are a key ingredient in the famous dessert 'banana foster', which features bananas sautéed in butter and brown sugar.
- Banana bread, a favorite comfort food, originated during the Great Depression when people repurposed overripe fruit.
Nutrition
- Rich in potassium, eating bananas can help maintain healthy blood pressure and heart function.
- They provide a quick source of energy due to their high carbohydrate content, making them a great snack before exercise.
- Bananas contain vitamins B6 and C, which are important for maintaining good health and immune functions.
Pop Culture
- The iconic cartoon character 'Curious George' often eats bananas, representing his mischievous and playful nature.
- In music, the hit song 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' humorously reflects a panic over the fruit's scarcity in the 1920s.
- The banana peel is a well-known comedic trope in movies and cartoons, often depicting slapstick humor when someone slips on it.
Botany
- Bananas grow in clusters called 'hands', and each hand can contain up to 20 bananas.
- The banana plant is technically considered a herb rather than a tree because its stem is made of tightly packed leaves.
- Though we often see yellow bananas, they can also be red or blue, showing the diversity within this popular fruit.
Origin of 'banana'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'banana' is believed to come from the Arabic word 'banan', meaning 'finger', highlighting the fruit's shape.
- Originally, bananas were domesticated in Southeast Asia and then spread throughout the tropics.
- In some cultures, bananas are called by different names; for instance, in West Africa, they are referred to as 'dodo'.
The word 'banana' comes from the Spanish or Portuguese word 'banana', which in turn comes from an African word. Bananas have been cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence of their consumption dating back to ancient times in regions such as Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. They are now one of the most popular fruits in the world, with many different varieties available.