noun

tamarind

TA-muh-rihnd

Tamarind (noun) means a tropical tree that produces long, curved pods filled with sticky, sour-sweet pulp. Example: “A tamarind tree grew beside the market stall.”

noun

A tropical tree that produces long, curved pods filled with sticky, sour-sweet pulp.

"A tamarind tree grew beside the market stall."

The sour-sweet pulp from this tree's pods, used as a souring agent in cooking and in sauces like Worcestershire.

"She stirred tamarind paste into the curry for a tangy kick."

"Tamarind gives the sauce its distinctive sour edge."

How to use tamarind

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sour-sweet fruit pulp from a tropical tree, widely used to add tang to dishes and sauces.

Common pairings

tamarind paste tamarind pod tamarind sauce

Word forms

tamarinds plural

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A _____ tree grew beside the market stall.

Etymology

From Arabic tamr hindiyy, literally "Indian date," passed through Medieval Latin and Old French into English.

Origin: Medieval Latin

Synonyms

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tamarindo tamarind tree

Frequently asked questions

What does “tamarind” mean?

The word “tamarind” means a tropical tree that produces long, curved pods filled with sticky, sour-sweet pulp. In plain terms, a sour-sweet fruit pulp from a tropical tree, widely used to add tang to dishes and sauces.

How do you pronounce “tamarind”?

“Tamarind” is pronounced TA-muh-rihnd (/ˈtæməɹɪnd/ in IPA).

How do you use “tamarind” in a sentence?

Here is “tamarind” used in a sentence: “A tamarind tree grew beside the market stall.”

What part of speech is “tamarind”?

“Tamarind” is a noun.

Where does the word “tamarind” come from?

The word “tamarind” comes from Medieval Latin. From Arabic tamr hindiyy, literally "Indian date," passed through Medieval Latin and Old French into English.

How many meanings does “tamarind” have?

“Tamarind” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tropical tree that produces long, curved pods filled with sticky, sour-sweet pulp.