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va·nil·la (və-nĭlə)
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n.
1. Any of various tropical American vines of the genus Vanilla in the orchid family, especially V. planifolia, widely cultivated for its long narrow seedpods, which yield an aromatic substance used especially as a flavoring.
2. The seedpod of this plant. Also called vanilla bean.
3. A flavoring extract prepared from the cured seedpods of this plant or produced synthetically.
adj.
1.
a. Flavored with vanilla: vanilla pudding.
b. Scented with or smelling like vanilla: vanilla perfume.
2. Lacking adornments or special features; basic or ordinary: “a delicious twist to a vanilla plot” (Ian O'Connor).
3. White or off-white in color: a vanilla suit.
4. Slang Relating to or engaging in sexual activity that is regarded as conventional or unadventurous; not kinky, sadomasochistic, or fetishistic.
[Spanish vainilla, from Old Spanish, pod, from diminutive of vaina, sheath, from Latin vāgīna.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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