plantain
1 synonym for plantain, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A starchy, banana-like fruit that is usually cooked before eating, similar to a potato in culinary use.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
plantain tree
How to use plantain
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fried plantain
ripe plantain
plantain chips
Etymology
From Latin plantago, related to planta, "sole of the foot," because of the plant's broad, flat leaves. The banana-like fruit is a separate, unrelated plant that happens to share the English name via Spanish.
Full origin of plantain →Frequently asked questions
What does “plantain” mean?
The word “plantain” means a starchy, banana-like fruit that is usually cooked before eating, similar to a potato in culinary use. In plain terms, either a cooking banana eaten savory, or an unrelated flat-leaved roadside weed.
How do you pronounce “plantain”?
“Plantain” is pronounced PLAN-tihn (/ˈplæn.tɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “plantain” in a sentence?
Here is “plantain” used in a sentence: “Fried plantain is a common side dish across West Africa and the Caribbean.”
What part of speech is “plantain”?
“Plantain” is a noun.
Where does the word “plantain” come from?
The word “plantain” comes from Latin. From Latin plantago, related to planta, "sole of the foot," because of the plant's broad, flat leaves. The banana-like fruit is a separate, unrelated plant that happens to share the English name via Spanish.
How many meanings does “plantain” have?
“Plantain” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a starchy, banana-like fruit that is usually cooked before eating, similar to a potato in culinary use.
