VANILLA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vanilla mean? 

• VANILLA (noun)
  The noun VANILLA has 3 senses:

1. any of numerous climbing plants of the genus Vanilla having fleshy leaves and clusters of large waxy highly fragrant white or green or topaz flowers

2. a flavoring prepared from vanilla beans macerated in alcohol (or imitating vanilla beans)

3. a distinctive fragrant flavor characteristic of vanilla beans

  Familiarity information: VANILLA used as a noun is uncommon.

• VANILLA (adjective)
  The adjective VANILLA has 2 senses:

1. flavored with vanilla extract

2. plain and without any extras or adornments

  Familiarity information: VANILLA used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VANILLA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of numerous climbing plants of the genus Vanilla having fleshy leaves and clusters of large waxy highly fragrant white or green or topaz flowers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("vanilla" is a kind of...):

orchid; orchidaceous plant (any of numerous plants of the orchid family usually having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colors)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "vanilla"):

vanilla orchid; Vanilla planifolia (a climbing orchid bearing a podlike fruit yielding vanilla beans; widely cultivated from Florida southward throughout tropical America)

Holonyms ("vanilla" is a member of...):

genus Vanilla (large genus of tropical climbing orchids; Old and New Worlds)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A flavoring prepared from vanilla beans macerated in alcohol (or imitating vanilla beans)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

vanilla; vanilla extract

Hypernyms ("vanilla" is a kind of...):

flavorer; flavoring; flavourer; flavouring; seasoner; seasoning (something added to food primarily for the savor it imparts)

Meronyms (substance of "vanilla"):

vanilla bean (long bean-like fruit; seeds are used as flavoring)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A distinctive fragrant flavor characteristic of vanilla beans

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("vanilla" is a kind of...):

flavor; flavour; nip; relish; sapidity; savor; savour; smack; tang (the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth)

• VANILLA (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flavored with vanilla extract

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

he liked vanilla ice cream

Pertainym:

vanilla (a flavoring prepared from vanilla beans macerated in alcohol (or imitating vanilla beans))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Plain and without any extras or adornments

Context example:

the basic car is known as the vanilla version

Similar:

plain (not elaborate or elaborated; simple)