1. 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
   "Plantain leaves were used in traditional remedies for minor wounds"
    
2. A banana tree bearing hanging clusters of edible angular greenish starchy fruits; tropics and subtropics
   "The plantain trees provided both food and shade";
   - plantain tree, Musa paradisiaca
    
3. Starchy banana-like fruit; eaten (always cooked) as a staple vegetable throughout the tropics
   "We fried plantains as a side dish for our Caribbean meal"

Derived forms: plantains

Type of: banana, banana tree, herb, herbaceous plant, veg [Brit, informal], vegetable, veggie [informal]

Part of: genus Plantago, Plantago

Encyclopedia: Plantain