banana

banana
/beuh nan"euh/, n.
1. a tropical plant of the genus Musa, certain species of which are cultivated for their nutritious fruit. Cf. banana family.
2. the fruit, esp. that of M. paradisiaca, with yellow or reddish rind.
[1590-1600; < Sp < Pg (perh. via Sp); akin to various words for banana or plantain in WAfr languages (e.g., Wolof, Malinke banana, Vai (Mande language of Liberia) bana), but ultimate source and direction of borrowing uncert.]

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Fruit of the genus Musa (family Musaceae), a gigantic herbaceous plant spread by rhizomes, and one of the most important food crops of the world.

The banana is consumed extensively throughout the tropics, where it is grown, and is also valued in the temperate zone for its flavour, nutritional value, and constant availability. Hundreds of varieties are cultivated. Perhaps the most important species is the common banana, M. sapientum. The ripe fruit is high in carbohydrates (mainly sugar), potassium, and vitamins C and A, and it is low in protein and fat. Though usually eaten fresh, bananas may also be cooked. The U.S. imports more bananas than does any other country. See also plantain.

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      port on the Atlantic coast in far southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo), central Africa, at the mouth of the Congo River. One of the nation's older towns, it was known as a trading centre in the 19th century, mainly during the slaving era. In the 1970s and 1980s its port was developed to increase its facilities as a deepwater port, and a rail line was built to link Banana with Boma and Kinshasa, the national capital. Banana lies in a delta of mangrove forests, but northward along the coast lie some beaches, near which is Moanda, an offshore oil centre. Pop. (latest est.) 3,165.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Banana — Banana …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • banana — banána ž DEFINICIJA 1. bot. a. tropska voćka (Musa paradisiaca, M. sapientium) iz porodice Musaceae b. mesnati hranjivi slatkasti plod te voćke 2. sport u košarci blokada udarca protivničkog igrača visokim skokom i ispruženom rukom SINTAGMA… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • banană — BANÁNĂ, banane, s.f. 1. Fruct de banan, având culoarea galbenă, formă lunguiaţă, miez făinos şi aromatic. 2. Piesă de contact electric formată dintr un mic cilindru metalic învelit pe jumătate în ebonită, care se montează la capătul unei conducte …   Dicționar Român

  • banana — 1590s, borrowed by Spanish or Portuguese from a W. African word, possibly Wolof banana. The plant was introduced to the New World from Africa in 1516. Top banana, second banana, etc. are 1950s, from show business slang use of banana for comedian …   Etymology dictionary

  • Banana — Ba*na na (b[.a]*n[aum] n[.a]; 277), n. [Sp. banana, name of the fruit.] (Bot.) A perennial herbaceous plant of almost treelike size ({Musa sapientum}); also, its edible fruit. See {Musa}. [1913 Webster] Note: The banana has a soft, herbaceous… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • banana — [bə nan′ə] n. [Sp & Port < native name in W Africa, as in Mande banäna] 1. any of a genus (Musa) of treelike tropical plants of the banana family, with long, broad leaves and large clusters of edible fruit; esp., any of the various hybrids… …   English World dictionary

  • banana — s.f. [dal port. banana, che risale a una voce della Guinea]. 1. (bot.) [frutto mangereccio del banano]. 2. (fig.) a. (fam.) [ciocca di capelli arrotolati] ▶◀ boccolo, ciuffo, onda. b. (elettrotecn.) [spina unipolare di connessione munita di… …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • Banána — Banána, Haupthafen des Kongostaates, auf einet kleinen sandigen Halbinsel zwischen dem Atlantischen Ozean und dem Kongo, die künstlich durch Pfahlbauten und Steinschüttung befestigt ist. Längs der Innenseite läuft eine tiefe und geräumige… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Banana — Banāna, Handelsplatz des Kongostaates, r. an der Kongomündung …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Banana — Banana,   Canaan Sodingo, simbabwischer Politiker, * Esithezini (bei Bulawayo) 5. 3. 1936; methodistischer Geistlicher, arbeitete zunächst mit Bischof A. Muzorewa im Rahmen des »African National Council« (ANC) zusammen und war 1971 73… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • BANANA — (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone) ba·nan·a || bÉ™ nɑːnÉ™ individual opposing the development of new buildings or edifices or projects close to his neighbourhood …   English contemporary dictionary

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