Plan·tain n.
 1. Bot. A treelike perennial herb (Musa paradisiaca) of tropical regions, bearing immense leaves and large clusters of the fruits called plantains. See Musa.
 2. The fruit of this plant. It is long and somewhat cylindrical, slightly curved, and, when ripe, soft, fleshy, and covered with a thick but tender yellowish skin. The plantain is a staple article of food in most tropical countries, especially when cooked.
 Plantain cutter, or Plantain eater Zool., any one of several large African birds of the genus Musophaga, or family Musophagidæ, especially Musophaga violacea. See Turaco.  They are allied to the cuckoos.
 Plantain squirrel Zool., a Java squirrel (Sciurus plantani) which feeds upon plantains.
 Plantain tree Bot., the treelike herb Musa paradisiaca. See def. 1 (above).


 plantain tree
      n : a banana tree bearing hanging clusters of edible angular
          greenish starchy fruits; tropics and subtropics [syn: plantain,
           Musa paradisiaca]