Meaning and Origin
What does the name Vanilla mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Vanilla
User Submitted Origins
English
80%
Arabic
10%
Hindu
10%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from North Carolina, U.S., the name Vanilla means "Sweet, loving and caring person".
- A user from Wisconsin, U.S. says the name Vanilla is of English origin and means "From the word 'vanilla' for the plant or derived flavoring".
- According to a user from Philippines, the name Vanilla is of English origin and means "Innocent, Simple".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Va*nil"la
Senses
- [Bot] A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants, natives of tropical America.
- The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and Vanilla claviculata, remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odor, for the volatile, odoriferous oil extracted from them; also, the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc.
Note: ☞ As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful.
Etymology: NL., fr. Sp. vainilla, dim. of Sp. vaina a sheath, a pod, L. vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods
Other Dictionary Sources
- A distinctive fragrant flavor characteristic of vanilla beans
- A flavoring prepared from vanilla beans macerated in alcohol (or imitating vanilla beans)
- 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
- Plain and without any extras or adornments ("the most common type of bond is the straight or plain vanilla bond" and "the basic car is known as the vanilla version")
- Flavored with vanilla extract ("he liked vanilla ice cream")
Wiktionary
Borrowing from Spanish vainilla, a diminutive form of vaina.
- (countable) Any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla (especially Vanilla planifolia), bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food or in perfumes.
- (countable) The fruit or bean of the vanilla plant.
- (uncountable) The extract of the fruit of the vanilla plant.
- (uncountable) The distinctive fragrant flavour/flavor characteristic of vanilla extract.
- You can tell that the secret ingredient missing from New CokeTM was , because certain South American economies collapsed when it was introduced, and miraculously revived when the old formula was used again.
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- (uncountable) Any artificially produced homologue of vanilla extract, principally vanillin produced from lignin from the paper industry or from petrochemicals.
vanilla was also found in the following language(s): Icelandic