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Glite Dictionary
vanilla bean

vanilla bean

6 2.3
A long narrow pod that contains tiny black seeds people use to flavor food
  • noun
  • /vəˈnɪlə bin/
translation icon : vaina de vainilla
  • In my chocolate cake recipe, I always use a vanilla bean instead of vanilla extract for richer flavor.
  • split a vanilla bean
  • split vanilla bean lengthwise
  • scrape the vanilla bean

This came with Raspberry and vanilla bean white chocolate.

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Examples

  • For dessert, sipping by itself is a delight, or serve with apple ginger pie with vanilla bean ice cream and cherry pie.

    Blog text (15)

  • She uses sugar, a cinnamon stick, and a vanilla bean.

    Blog text (5)

  • Uh, could we get you one of these? - It's got vanilla bean in it this morning.

    Instinct (1999)

  • Flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla bean...

    Ratatouille (2007)

  • I need vanilla beans, split and scraped.

    Dinner Rush (2000)

  • It's vanilla bean ice cream with the soft cookie pieces and ripples of chocolate frosting.

  • Inky black fruit, mocha, and vanilla bean combine with a smooth but rich palate in this indulgent wine.

    Blog text (11)

  • In a heavy 4-quart saucepan, mix together milk, sugar, vanilla bean (if using), and baking soda, and bring to a boil over medium heat.

    Blog text (8)

  • I still remember her hot chocolate made out of grated cocoa cones, vanilla beans, and sweet condensed milk, and her slow-cooked and caramelized maize puddings.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • To make homemade ice cream, add a split vanilla bean to the mixture while it churns.

Surface Forms

vanilla bean singular
vanilla beans plural

Morphology

vanilla + bean

The meaning 'the long, narrow pod/seed of the vanilla plant used for flavoring' is directly derivable from combining 'vanilla' (the plant/flavor) with 'bean' (a seed/pod), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the referent. Although a vanilla bean is not a true legume, the compounding pattern (noun + noun indicating a type/part) is transparent and cross-linguistically common, supporting immediate comprehension.

Etymology

Vanilla bean names the long, thin pod from the vanilla flower; cooks split the bean and scrape out the tiny black seeds to make real vanilla flavor, so it means 'the actual pod used as a flavoring'.