plantain

1 of 2

noun (1)

plan·​tain ˈplan-tᵊn How to pronounce plantain (audio)
: any of a genus (Plantago of the family Plantaginaceae, the plantain family) of herbs with basal rosettes of usually lanceolate or elliptical leaves and spikes of minute greenish flowers

plantain

2 of 2

noun (2)

plan·​tain plan-ˈtān How to pronounce plantain (audio)
ˈplan-ˌtān,
ˈplan-tᵊn
1
: the angular greenish starchy fruit of the plantain that is a staple food in the tropics when cooked
2
: a banana plant (Musa paradisiaca)

Examples of plantain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The first course is a gazpacho with plantain chips and feta. Emma Soren, Vulture, 24 June 2024 But most notable is the mole, a blend of nearly 30 ingredients that result in a delicate, slightly sweet sauce with hints of plantain, sesame, and chilhuacle pepper. Caroline Tell, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 Sesame seeds thicken the mixture, and overripe plantain creates a silky texture. Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024 In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Beryl wiped out 90% of bananas, plantains, and coconuts, alongside hundreds of fishing boats and key infrastructure. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for plantain 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin plantagin-, plantago, from planta sole of the foot; from its broad leaves — more at place

Noun (2)

Spanish plántano, plátano plane tree, banana tree, from Medieval Latin plantanus plane tree, alteration of Latin platanus — more at plane entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plantain was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near plantain

Cite this Entry

“Plantain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plantain. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

plantain

1 of 2 noun
plan·​tain ˈplant-ᵊn How to pronounce plantain (audio)
: any of several common weeds having a short stem or none at all, leaves with parallel veins, and a long stalk of tiny greenish flowers

plantain

2 of 2 noun
: the large greenish starchy fruit of a kind of banana plant that is eaten cooked and is an important food in the tropics
also : this plant

Medical Definition

plantain

noun
plan·​tain ˈplant-ᵊn How to pronounce plantain (audio)
: any plant of the genus Plantago

More from Merriam-Webster on plantain

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