# banana

/bəˈnænə/ (US) · /bɐnˈɑːnɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/banana
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. the fruit

noun · CEFR A1

a long, curved fruit with a yellow skin and soft, sweet flesh.

For teachers: the elongated, edible fruit of a tropical plant, typically characterized by a yellow skin when ripe and a creamy, seedless pulp.

- He peeled a banana and ate it for a quick snack before his workout.
- The export of Cavendish bananas remains a cornerstone of the regional economy, though concerns about soil-borne fungi have prompted research into more resistant varieties.

### 2. the plant

noun · CEFR B2

the large tropical plant that grows bananas.

For teachers: any of several treelike herbaceous plants of the genus Musa, having large leaves and bearing fruit in hanging clusters.

- The garden was full of tall banana plants with huge green leaves.
- Botanically, the banana is not a tree but a giant herb, as its stem consists of tightly packed leaf sheaths rather than true wood.

### 3. curved kick

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a kick in sports that makes the ball move in a curve.

For teachers: a strike or kick, particularly in football or rugby, that imparts a significant lateral curve to the ball's flight path.

- He scored a goal with a brilliant banana that went around the wall.
- The winger mastered the banana kick, allowing him to bypass the defensive line and find the top corner of the net from a narrow angle.

### 4. handstand error

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Informal

a handstand where the back is curved too much like a banana.

For teachers: a technical error in gymnastics where the athlete arches their back excessively during a handstand.

- The coach told her to tighten her stomach so she wouldn't do a banana.
- Beginners often struggle with core stability, resulting in a banana handstand that places unnecessary strain on the lumbar spine.

### 5. curved shape

adjective · CEFR B2

having a curved shape like a banana.

For teachers: possessing a curved or arc-like trajectory or physical form.

- The ball followed a banana path through the air and landed in the hole.
- The architect designed a banana-shaped balcony that offered a panoramic view of the coastline while maintaining the building's aerodynamic profile.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.