'Plantain' definitions:

Definition of 'plantain'

From: WordNet
noun
Any of numerous plants of the genus Plantago; mostly small roadside or dooryard weeds with elliptic leaves and small spikes of very small flowers; seeds of some used medicinally
noun
A banana tree bearing hanging clusters of edible angular greenish starchy fruits; tropics and subtropics [syn: plantain, plantain tree, Musa paradisiaca]
noun
Starchy banana-like fruit; eaten (always cooked) as a staple vegetable throughout the tropics

Definition of 'Plantain'

From: GCIDE

Definition of 'Plantain'

From: GCIDE
  • Plantain \Plan"tain\, n. [Cf. F. plantain-arbre, plantanier, Sp. pl['a]ntano, pl['a]tano; prob. same word as plane tree.]
  • 1. (Bot.) A treelike perennial herb (Musa paradisiaca) of tropical regions, bearing immense leaves and large clusters of the fruits called plantains. See Musa. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The fruit of this plant. It is long and somewhat cylindrical, slightly curved, and, when ripe, soft, fleshy, and covered with a thick but tender yellowish skin. The plantain is a staple article of food in most tropical countries, especially when cooked. [1913 Webster]
  • Plantain cutter, or Plantain eater (Zool.), any one of several large African birds of the genus Musophaga, or family Musophagid[ae], especially Musophaga violacea. See Turaco. They are allied to the cuckoos.
  • Plantain squirrel (Zool.), a Java squirrel ({Sciurus plantani}) which feeds upon plantains.
  • Plantain tree (Bot.), the treelike herb Musa paradisiaca. See def. 1 (above). [1913 Webster]