tamarind

noun

tam·​a·​rind ˈta-mə-rənd How to pronounce tamarind (audio)
-ˌrind
1
: an African evergreen tree (Tamarindus indica) of the legume family that is widely grown in tropical regions and has hard yellowish wood, pinnate leaves, red-striped yellow flowers, and an edible fruit
2
: the fruit of the tamarind tree consisting of an oblong brown pod containing 1 to 12 flat seeds embedded in a brownish, sticky, acidic pulp which is used especially in preserves and pastes and to flavor foods and beverages

Illustration of tamarind

Illustration of tamarind

Examples of tamarind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The restaurant recently launched a ten-course vegetarian menu featuring vegan dishes like the beetroot tamarind sorbet, which features mint, tamarind gel and cucumber granite. Kaila Yu, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Plump Kauai prawns sauteed in garlicky fish sauce ($17) set the stage for savory sinigang ($30) — tamarind broth loaded with long beans, okra and fish. Shannon Wianecki, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024 Champagne towers and proprietary cocktails sourced with contemporary South Asian flavors like tamarind and coconut were sipped as the global cadre of accomplished guests mingled. Sam Falb, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2024 Think pulled pork with a tamarind molasses BBQ sauce and smoked chicken with a chili-vinegar dip. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tamarind 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish & Portuguese tamarindo, from Arabic tamr hindī, literally, Indian date

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamarind was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tamarind

Cite this Entry

“Tamarind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamarind. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tamarind

noun
tam·​a·​rind ˈtam-ə-rənd How to pronounce tamarind (audio)
-rind
: a tropical tree of the legume family that has hard yellowish wood, feathery leaves, and red-striped yellow flowers
also : its fruit which has a sour pulp used especially for preserves or as a seasoning in cooking

Medical Definition

tamarind

noun
tam·​a·​rind ˈtam-ə-rənd, -ˌrind How to pronounce tamarind (audio)
1
: a tropical leguminous tree (Tamarindus indica) with hard yellowish wood and a fruit with an acid pulp
2
: the pulp of the partially dried ripe fruit of a tamarind used in herbal medicine especially for its laxative properties

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