Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Banana |
BananaNoun1. Any of several tropical and subtropical treelike herbs of the genus Musa having a terminal crown of large entire leaves and usually bearing hanging clusters of elongated fruits. 2. Elongated crescent-shaped yellow fruit with soft sweet flesh. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "banana" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1813. (references) |
Etymology: Banana \Ba*na"na\, noun. [from Spanish expression banana, name of the fruit.]. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Dream Interpretation | To dream of bananas, foretells that you will be mated to an uninteresting and an unloved companion. To eat them, foretells a tiresome venture in business, and self-inflicted duty. To see them decaying, you are soon to fall into some disagreeable enterprise. To trade in them, non-productive interests will accumulate around you. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted .... |
Food & Agriculture | A long curved fruit with soft pulpy flesh and yellow skin when ripe, growing in clusters. Source: European Union. (references) |
Nuclear Energy & Physics | The curve, obtained by projection on a plane passing through the axis of an axisymmetric toroidal configuration, of the locus of the guiding centre of a particle trapped between two regi ons with intense magnetic fields. Source: European Union. (references) |
Slang | Noun. Source: Banana. Definition: A treelike tropical plant bearing thick clusters of yellow or reddish fruit. Context: Whenever a white man enters the game. Social Source: Hackey-Sack Players on University of Oregon Campus. Source: Compiled by The University of Oregon. (additional references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
For other meanings, see: Banana, Australia
A banana is a plant of the genus Musa in the family Musaceae, closely related to plantain. The term banana is also applied to the elongated fruit (technically a false berry), which grows (in edible species and varieties) in hanging clusters, several to many fruits to a tier (called a hand), many tiers to a bunch. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors. The fruit is easily peeled and eaten raw or cooked. It is a rich source of potassium, and hence is highly recommended for patients suffering from high blood pressure. Depending upon variety and ripeness, the flesh can be starchy to sweet, and firm to mushy. Plantains are used in cooking and are the staple starch of some tropical populations.
Banana chips are produced from bananas.
The commercial sweet varieties most commonly eaten in temperate countries (species Musa acuminata or the hybrid Musa x paradisiaca, a cultigen) are imported in large quantities from the tropics, where they are popular in part because they are available fresh year-round. While the original bananas contained rather large seeds, seedless and triploid varieties have been selected for human consumption. These are propagated asexually from offshoots of the plant.A hand of bananas of the
type sold to people to eatBanana Extinction
In 2003 Belgian plant pathologist Emile Frison of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain stated that the dominant commercial banana variety Cavendish may become extinct within 10 years. The limited genetic diversity of cultivated bananas (which is due to their asexual reproduction) make them vulnerable to diseases such as black Sigatoka (or a new strain of Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease). The magazine New Scientist added, "We may see the extinction of the banana, currently a lifesaver for hungry and impoverished Africans and the most popular product on the world's supermarket shelves." However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Cavendish bananas make up about 10% of the total world banana crop, with small-scale farmers continuing to grow numerous other varieties. The predecessor to the Cavendish, the Gros Michel, had suffered a similar fate.
Urban legend
It is an urban legend that the dried skin of banana fruit is hallucinogenic when smoked. Unlike many urban legends, the origin of this one has been traced. It dates back to an article in the student newspaper Berkeley Barb in March 1967, which got the story from the singer Country Joe. Even the FDA investigated. In the 1940s and 1950s, an urban legend about bananas involved tarantulas arriving in the neighborhood hidden among the hands of the banana bunch.
External links
- Banana by Julia Morton, Fruits of Warm Climates, pp. 29–46.
- Further details from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Food | List of fruits | List of vegetables Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Banana."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything, or sometimes Anyone) is an acronym used to describe the opposition of certain groups to some types of development.The opponents are often environmentalists, in which case the argument is generally that we don't need more of what is being planned (so in the case of a power plant, the opposition would be that we need to use power more wisely, not generate more).
Another form of opposition is from people with an attachment to a particular area (but not necessary living there) which is under threat. Much of the opposition to development in rural areas falls in this category; campaigners are not necessarily opposed to all possible development, just that which they feel will corrupt a particular set of locations (such as pristine wilderness).
Compare with the much better known acronym NIMBY, which describes situations where development "in my backyard" are protested against without questioning the overall necessity of the development.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "BANANA."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Banana is a mildly pejorative term used to refer to someone who is white (Western) on the inside and yellow (Asian) on the outside. It is most commonly used by first generation Chinese Americans to refer to American-born Chinese. It is a synonym of jook-sing.Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Banana (person)."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Banana is a port on the Atlantic Coast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Banana, Congo."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
BANANA | English | Build absolutely nothing anywhere near anybody | Nuclear Energy & Physics |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonym: BananaSynonym: banana tree (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Food | Alligator pear, apple; apple slump; artichoke; ashcake, griddlecake, pancake, flapjack; atole, avocado, banana, beche de mer, barbecue, beefsteak; beet root; blackberry, blancmange, bloater, bouilli, bouillon, breadfruit, chop suey; chowder, chupatty, clam, compote, damper, fish, frumenty, grapes, hasty pudding, ice cream, lettuce, mango, mangosteen, mince pie, oatmeal, oyster, pineapple, porridge, porterhouse steak, salmis, sauerkraut, sea slug, sturgeon ("Albany beef"), succotash, supawn, trepang, vanilla, waffle, walnut. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Banana |
| English words defined with "banana": abaca, Adam's apple ♦ Banana bird, banana bread, banana split ♦ ceriman ♦ dwarf banana ♦ edible banana, Endogen ♦ genus Strelitzia ♦ Japanese banana ♦ Manila hemp, Monstera deliciosa, Musa acuminata, Musa basjoo, Musa paradisiaca, Musa paradisiaca sapientum, Musa textilis ♦ plantain, plantain tree ♦ Scitamineous, Strelitzia ♦ Wild plantain. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "banana": banana label, banana problem, Bounce Frequency ♦ cow's tongue ♦ INFALAPSARIAN ♦ Neoclassical Diffusion ♦ Trapped Particles ♦ xor ♦ Zingiberales. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "banana": Musa. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "Banana" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses. Afrikaan (banana), Basque (banana), Bavarian (banana), Irish (banana), Italian (banana), Macedonian (banana), Occitan (banana), Portuguese (banana, wimp), Portuguese Brazilian (banana), Provencal (banana), Serbo-Croatian (banana), Spanish (banana). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Good! Banana! Banana (Big Man on Campus; writing credit: Allan Katz) A ballpoint banana. (Batman; writing credit: Bob Kane; Lorenzo Semple Jr.) Yeah, and we're not going to fall for a banana in the tailpipe (Beverly Hills Cop; writing credit: Danilo Bach; Daniel Petrie Jr.) Banana Hammock (Scrubs; writing credit: Gabrielle Allan; Janae Bakken) Okay, I'll have a banana split (Men O'War; writing credit: Leo McCarey; H.M. Walker) | |
Lyrics | A beautiful bunch a'ripe banana ("Banana Boat (Day-O)"; performing artist: Harry Belafonte) Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana ("Banana Boat (Day-O)"; performing artist: Harry Belafonte) Stack banana till thee morning come ("Banana Boat (Day-O)"; performing artist: Harry Belafonte) | |
Clever | In a recent survey, what did Americans reveal was their favorite smell? Banana. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Banana Mecânica (1974) Stawiam na Tolka Banana (1972) Banana Leaf (1972) Juanita Banana (1968) | |
Song Titles | Banana Boat Song, The (performing artist: The Tarriers) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books | |||
Periodicals |
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Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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High Tech |
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Consumer Goods | |||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Shown is the 5 A Day ad "The Original Fast Food" that appeared in Washington D.C.'s Metrorail stations during September 1993. The ad has running figurines in the shapes of a banana, an orange juice box, a tomato, carrot and broccoli. Credit: Fred Hirsch (photographer). |  | Shown is a 5-A-Day ad "The Original Fast Food" that appeared on metrobuses in the Washington D.C. area during September, 1993. The ad includes a running banana, orange juice box, tomoato, carrot and broccoli figurines. Credit: Fred Hirsch (photographer). |
 | A banana tree. Credit: America's Coastlines. |  | Native standing by destroyed banana and coconut groves after Typhoon Amy. Credit: Small World. |
 | Landowner and Matthew Wung, NRCS Soil Conservationist test soils in banana plantation near Hilo, HI. [Slide 97CS3140]. Credit: Ron Nichols. |  | Terry-Lee Shibuya and Matthew Wung test soils in a banana plantation near Hilo, HI. [Slide 97CS2957]. Credit: Ron Nichols. |
 | Macro shot of a banana slug. Credit: Carol Kauder. |  | Banana transportation. Tela Railroad Company. Leaving the engine house at La Lima, Honduras, for the run to Tela. Credit: Library of Congress. |
 | Banana plantation, Indian River. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Banana grove in the Barranca. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Banana" by Justin Heininger Commentary: "Macro shot of a banana on a cutting board." | "Banana Skin" by Graeme Simpson Commentary: "Banana skin in focus with actual banana out of focus." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | Banana cream |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Liberia | Also grown are pineapple, banana, papaya, and mango. (references) |
Ecuador | Standard Fruit/Dole (U.S.) is involved in banana marketing. (references) | |
Ecuador | Machala's Puerto Bolivar on the south coast is the major banana port. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Panama | Even when working in close proximity to each other, indigenous laborers in the country's sugar, coffee, and banana plantations work under worse conditions than their nonindigenous counterparts. (references) |
Political Economy | Saint Lucia | Tourism and banana exports are the country's principal sources of foreign exchange. (references) |
PANAMA | Banana workers continue to complain of health hazards largely due to alleged exposure to pesticides. (references) | |
Trade | Costa Rica | Coffee, sugar, banana, and beef producers' organizations also allocate export amounts among the producers up to the limit of various country quotas. (references) |
Costa Rica | ISO 14001 certification for environmental responsibility has been granted to banana producers and at least one hotel operator in ecologically sensitive areas. (references) | |
Women | Dominica | According to the Labor Department, many women in rural areas find it difficult to meet basic needs, at least in part owing to the decline in the banana export industry. (references) |
Worker Rights | Costa Rica | Youths under the age of 18 may not work in the banana industry. (references) |
Belize | However, at year's end, the Government had provided no additional assistance to banana workers. (references) | |
Nicaragua | Over 140,000 children are employed in rural areas at coffee, tobacco, rice, and banana plantations. (references) | |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | INFALAPSARIAN, n. One who ventures to believe that Adam need not have sinned unless he had a mind to -- in opposition to the Supralapsarians, who hold that that luckless person's fall was decreed from the beginning. Infralapsarians are sometimes called Sublapsarians without material effect upon the importance and lucidity of their views about Adam. Two theologues once, as they wended their way To chapel, engaged in colloquial fray -- An earnest logomachy, bitter as gall, Concerning poor Adam and what made him fall. "'Twas Predestination," cried one -- "for the Lord Decreed he should fall of his own accord." "Not so -- 'twas Free will," the other maintained, "Which led him to choose what the Lord had ordained." So fierce and so fiery grew the debate That nothing but bloodshed their dudgeon could sate; So off flew their cassocks and caps to the ground And, moved by the spirit, their hands went round. Ere either had proved his theology right By winning, or even beginning, the fight, A gray old professor of Latin came by, A staff in his hand and a scowl in his eye, And learning the cause of their quarrel (for still As they clumsily sparred they disputed with skill Of foreordination freedom of will) Cried: "Sirrahs! this reasonless warfare compose: Atwixt ye's no difference worthy of blows. The sects ye belong to -- I'm ready to swear Ye wrongly interpret the names that they bear. You -- Infralapsarian son of a clown! -- Should only contend that Adam slipped down; While you -- you Supralapsarian pup! -- Should nothing aver but that Adam slipped up. It's all the same whether up or down You slip on a peel of banana brown. Even Adam analyzed not his blunder, But thought he had slipped on a peal of thunder! G.J. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Banana" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 94.41% of the time. "Banana" is used about 482 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 94.41% | 456 | 12,822 |
| Noun (proper) | 5.59% | 27 | 66,962 |
| Total | 100.00% | 482 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "banana" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| Banana | Last name | 130 | 65,840 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
Expressions using "banana": abyssinian banana ♦ Banana bird ♦ banana boat ♦ banana bread ♦ banana family ♦ banana label ♦ banana oil ♦ banana passion fruit ♦ banana plantation ♦ banana plug ♦ banana problem ♦ Banana quit ♦ banana republic ♦ Banana solution ♦ banana split ♦ banana stem ♦ banana tree ♦ dwarf banana ♦ edible banana ♦ ethiopian banana ♦ japanese banana ♦ top banana. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "banana": banana-boat, banana-box, banana-brain, banana-coloured, banana-curved, banana-diet, banana-eaters, banana-fingered, banana-flavoured, banana-growing, banana-head, banana-leaf, banana-packing, banana-producing, banana-shaped, banana-skin, banana-skins, banana-split. | |
Ending with "banana": box-stick-and-banana, euro-banana, hanging-banana, Raleigh-banana. | |
Containing "banana": one-banana problem. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
banana republic | 9,992 | banana plant | 175 |
banana | 4,213 | agriculture banana | 170 |
banana bread recipe | 1,013 | banana guide | 166 |
banana bread | 908 | banana picture | 149 |
banana tree | 468 | banana cake recipe | 147 |
banana pudding | 412 | banana muffin | 144 |
banana boat | 310 | banana republic coupon | 137 |
banana republic.com | 301 | banana calorie | 130 |
banana pudding recipe | 297 | banana republic outlet | 128 |
banana split | 284 | banana split cake | 113 |
banana dancing | 281 | banana boob | 94 |
banana recipe | 264 | banana muffin recipe | 93 |
banana nut bread | 246 | banana nutrition | 92 |
melt banana | 235 | calorie in a banana | 92 |
banana cake | 226 | banana in pajamas | 89 |
banana spider | 209 | banana leaf | 88 |
banana cream pie | 204 | banana cream pie recipe | 85 |
banana nut bread recipe | 192 | banana fish | 79 |
banana joes | 188 | banana company list | 77 |
banana foster | 181 | banana plug | 76 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "banana"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | piesang, banana. (various references) | |
Albanian | banane. (various references) | |
Arabic | موز, شجرة الموز. (various references) | |
Asturian | plátanu. (various references) | |
Aymara | poqota. (various references) | |
Basque | banana. (various references) | |
Bavarian | banana. (various references) | |
Bemba | inkonde. (various references) | |
Blackfoot | iinán. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | банан. (various references) | |
Cebuano | saging. (various references) | |
Chamorro | chotdan dama. (various references) | |
Chinese | 香蕉 . (various references) | |
Czech | banán. (various references) | |
Danish | banan (orbit of trapped particle). (various references) | |
Dutch | banaan (orbit of trapped particle), pisang. (various references) | |
Ecuadorian Quechua | palanta. (various references) | |
Esperanto | banano, pizango. (various references) | |
Faeroese | banan. (various references) | |
Farsi | موز. (various references) | |
Finnish | banaani. (various references) | |
French | banane. (various references) | |
Frisian | banaan. (various references) | |
German | Banane (orbit of trapped particle). (various references) | |
Greek | μπανάνα. (various references) | |
Hawaiian | banane. (various references) | |
Hebrew | בננה. (various references) | |
Hungarian | banán. (various references) | |
Icelandic | bjúgaldin, banani. (various references) | |
Indonesian | pisang. (various references) | |
Irish | banana. (various references) | |
Italian | banana (orbit of trapped particle). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | バナジウム鋼 (vanadium steel). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | バナナ . (various references) | |
Kongo | bitika. (various references) | |
Korean | 바나나. (various references) | |
Macedonian | banana. (various references) | |
Malay | pisang. (various references) | |
Manx | bananey. (various references) | |
Maya | ha'as. (various references) | |
Mohawk | tyotahyàkton. (various references) | |
Norwegian | banan. (various references) | |
Occitan | banana. (various references) | |
Papago | howij. (various references) | |
Papiamen | bacoba. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | ananabay.(various references) | |
Polish | banan. (various references) | |
Portuguese | banana (wimp). (various references) | |
Portuguese Brazilian | banana. (various references) | |
Provencal | banana. (various references) | |
Romanian | bananã. (various references) | |
Ruanda | umuhwi. (various references) | |
Russian | банан. (various references) | |
Samoan | fai. (various references) | |
Sepedi | panana. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | banana. (various references) | |
Shona | muhovha (banana plant). (various references) | |
Spanish | plátano (plane, plane tree, plantain), banana (orbit of trapped particle). (various references) | |
Sranan | bakba. (various references) | |
Swahili | ndizi. (various references) | |
Swedish | banan. (various references) | |
Tagalog | ságing. (various references) | |
Thai | กล้วย. (various references) | |
Turkish | muz. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | банан, блазень (antic, aper, buffoon, clown, harlequin, jester, motley, mountebank, owl-glass, tomfool, zany). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | dầu chuối (banana oil). (various references) | |
Yucatec | ha'as. (various references) | |
Zulu | ubhanana. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | MUSA, Musa sp.. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "banana": bananas. (additional references) | |
| |
"Banana" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Abana, Abenina, anane, Ananta, Anjana, Anyanya, baaa, Baaaaaa, Baanga, Baasanjav, Babana, babanaft, babani, Bacani, Badawai, Baganda, Bagnaia, Bagnara, bagnini, Bahnini, Balaena, balnain, banaban, banan, ba-na-na, Bananaz, Banane, bananna, bancada, Baneasa, banen, Banija, Banin, banine, bannana, bannanna, bannas, Bannau, banon, Barajna, barangay, Baranov, Basaza, Bayano, Befana, Benani, benian, benine, Beninta, Benoni, Besana, Bhavnani, Bifano, binane, binna, Bohana, Bonane, Bonzanna, Bounaama, Braganca, Bunyala, Fanfani, Hannana, mbaqanga, Nankani, qannai, Ranjana, sanaan, Sanandaj, Ya'nina, Zanjani. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "banana" (pronounced buna"nu) |
| 4 | -n a" n u | nana. |
| 3 | -a" n u | Anna, arcana, bandana, cabana, dulciana, grana, Kana, Lantana, manna, piano, savanna, savannah. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-a-a-b-n-n" | |
-2 letters: anna, naan, nana. | |
-3 letters: aba, ana, baa, ban, nab, nan. | |
-4 letters: aa, ab, an, ba, na. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-a-a-b-n-n" | |
+1 letter: bananas, bandana. | |
+2 letters: anabaena, bandanas, bandanna. | |
+3 letters: anabaenas, bandannas. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Quotations: Fiction 10. Quotations: Non-fiction 11. Usage Frequency 12. Names: Frequency | 13. Expressions 14. Expressions: Internet 15. Translations: Modern 16. Translations: Ancient | 17. Abbreviations 18. Acronyms 19. Derivations 20. Rhymes | 21. Anagrams 22. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
