Definition

1. Noun:
   • A starchy, banana-like fruit: A type of fruit that resembles a banana but is typically larger, starchier, and less sweet, usually eaten cooked as a vegetable in tropical and subtropical regions.
   • The plant bearing this fruit: A type of banana tree (genus Musa) that produces these starchy, angular fruits.
   • A common weed: Any of numerous small, low-growing plants of the genus Plantago, often found by roadsides or in yards, with broad leaves and small flower spikes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Fruit):
  • Fried plantain is a popular side dish in many Caribbean countries.
  • The recipe calls for two ripe plantains, which should be peeled and sliced.
• Noun (Plant):
  • The plantain tree in our garden finally bore fruit this year.
• Noun (Weed):
  • Broadleaf plantain is a common weed in lawns across North America.

Advanced Usage

• "Plantain lily": This is a common name for plants in the genus , which are ornamental garden plants. This usage is distinct from the primary definitions of "plantain."
  • The shade garden was filled with various cultivars of plantain lily.

Variants and Related Words

• Plantain-eater (n): A type of large African bird (genus ) that feeds on fruit.
• Plantain squirrel (n): A species of squirrel () found in Southeast Asia.

Synonyms

• Cooking banana: A synonym for the starchy fruit.
• Musa paradisiaca: The scientific name for one type of plantain plant.
• Broadleaf plantain, Common plantain: Terms for the weedy plant ().

Related Phrases

• Plantain chip: A thin slice of plantain that is fried or baked until crisp.
  • She snacked on a bag of salty plantain chips.
• Plantain flour: A flour made from dried, ground plantains, used in cooking and baking.
  • Plantain flour is a gluten-free alternative in some recipes.

Noun

1. starchy banana-like fruit; eaten (always cooked) as a staple vegetable throughout the tropics
2. a banana tree bearing hanging clusters of edible angular greenish starchy fruits; tropics and subtropics
3. any of numerous plants of the genus Plantago; mostly small roadside or dooryard weeds with elliptic leaves and small spikes of very small flowers; seeds of some used medicinally