tonka bean

ton·ka bean

T0263600 (tŏng′kə)n.1. A tropical South American tree (Dipteryx odorata) in the pea family, having pulpy, egg-shaped, one-seeded pods with fragrant seeds containing coumarin.2. The seed of this tree, formerly widely used as a flavoring for food or tobacco. Extracts from tonka beans have been banned as food additives in the United States.

[Perhaps from Galibi tonka.]

tonka bean

(ˈtɒŋkə) n1. (Plants) a tall leguminous tree, Coumarouna odorata, of tropical America, having fragrant black almond-shaped seeds2. (Plants) the seeds of this tree, used in the manufacture of perfumes, snuff, etc[C18: probably from Tupi tonka]

ton′ka bean`

(ˈtɒŋ kə)
n. 1. the fragrant black seed of a tropical American tree, Dipteryx odorata, or related species: used in perfumes, as a source of coumarin, and as a vanilla substitute. 2. the tree itself. [1790–1800; probably < Tupi tõka]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tonka bean - fragrant black nutlike seeds of the tonka bean tree; used in perfumes and medicines and as a substitute for vanillacoumara nutbean - any of various seeds or fruits that are beans or resemble beans
	2.	tonka bean - tall tropical South American tree having pulpy egg-shaped pods of fragrant black almond-shaped seeds used for flavoringCoumarouna odorata, Dipteryx odorata, tonka bean treeCoumarouna, Dipteryx, genus Coumarouna, genus Dipteryx - tropical American trees: tonka beansbean tree - any of several trees having seedpods as fruits

tonka bean

(tŏng`kə), black-skinned, aromatic, almondlike single seed from the pod of any tall leguminous tree of the genus Dipteryx in the family Leguminosae (pulsepulse,
in botany, common name for members of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae), a large plant family, called also the pea, or legume, family. Numbering about 650 genera and 17,000 species, the family is third largest, after the asters and the orchids.
..... Click the link for more information. family) of tropical South America. It contains coumarin, a fermented substance that has a vanillalike aroma and is used as a vanilla substitute and in the manufacture of perfumes, sachets, soaps, tobacco, and food. Natural coumarin has been almost completely replaced by a synthetic product. The name of the bean also appears as tonqua bean and tonquin bean. Plants producing tonka beans are classified in the division MagnoliophytaMagnoliophyta
, division of the plant kingdom consisting of those organisms commonly called the flowering plants, or angiosperms. The angiosperms have leaves, stems, and roots, and vascular, or conducting, tissue (xylem and phloem).
..... Click the link for more information. , class Magnoliopsida, order Rosales, family Leguminosae.

tonka bean

(tŏng′kə)n.1. A tropical South American tree (Dipteryx odorata) in the pea family, having pulpy, egg-shaped, one-seeded pods with fragrant seeds containing coumarin.2. The seed of this tree, formerly widely used as a flavoring for food or tobacco. Extracts from tonka beans have been banned as food additives in the United States.

tonka bean

noun

Synonyms for tonka bean

noun fragrant black nutlike seeds of the tonka bean tree

Synonyms

coumara nut

Related Words

bean

noun tall tropical South American tree having pulpy egg-shaped pods of fragrant black almond-shaped seeds used for flavoring

Synonyms

Coumarouna odorata
Dipteryx odorata
tonka bean tree

Related Words

Coumarouna
Dipteryx
genus Coumarouna
genus Dipteryx
bean tree