vanilla
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a substance used to give a sweet, pleasant taste to food like ice cream or cakes.
n.the extract or flavouring derived from the seed pods of the vanilla orchid.
Simple“She added a few drops of vanilla to the cake batter for a better smell.”
In context“The recipe calls for authentic vanilla bean rather than synthetic essence to achieve a more complex flavour profile in the custard.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.basic or ordinary, with no extra features or special changes.
adj.denoting a standard, basic, or unmodified version of something; often used in software or product descriptions.
Simple“I prefer the vanilla version of the app because the new features are too confusing.”
In context“The developer recommended installing the vanilla software first before attempting to apply any third-party patches or visual mods.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describing someone or something that is very traditional and not adventurous.
adj.conventional, traditional, or lacking in novelty; frequently used to describe lifestyle choices or artistic styles that avoid experimentation.
Simple“Their lifestyle is quite vanilla, but they seem very happy with their routine.”
In context“Critics dismissed the director's latest effort as a vanilla romantic comedy that failed to challenge any genre conventions.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very pale, yellowish-white colour.
n.a specific shade of off-white or pale cream, resembling the colour of natural vanilla-flavoured dairy products.
Simple“The walls were painted a soft vanilla to make the room feel warmer.”
In context“The interior designer suggested a vanilla palette for the upholstery to complement the dark mahogany of the library shelves.”
Synonymscreamoff white
Borrowed from Spanish vainilla, a diminutive form of vaina (“pod”). "Plain" senses derive from the perceived plainness of vanilla ice cream.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.