tonka bean

[ tong-kuh ]

noun
  1. the fragrant, black almond-shaped seed of a tall tree belonging to the genus Dipteryx (or Coumarouna), of the legume family, especially D. odorata, of tropical South America, used in perfumes, as a source of coumarin, and as a substitute for vanilla.

  2. the tree itself.

Origin of tonka bean

1
1790–1800; tonka probably <Tupi tõka

Words Nearby tonka bean

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How to use tonka bean in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tonka bean

tonka bean

/ (ˈtɒŋkə) /


noun
  1. a tall leguminous tree, Coumarouna odorata, of tropical America, having fragrant black almond-shaped seeds

  2. the seeds of this tree, used in the manufacture of perfumes, snuff, etc

Origin of tonka bean

1
C18: probably from Tupi tonka

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012