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Glite Dictionary
banana family

banana family

1 3.5
A group of tropical tree-like plants that includes bananas
  • noun
  • /bəˈnænə ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
: familia de los plátanos
  • Plants in the banana family thrive in tropical climates and are known for their large leaves and fruits.

Examples

  • The banana family includes various plants like the banana and plantain, all belonging to the genus Musa.

  • These phytoliths are distinctive to the banana family (genus Musa, family Musaceae).

    Academic text (2006)

  • One of the most popular fruits in the world, the banana family, scientifically classified as Musaceae, includes the banana.

Synonyms

Musaceae
vsbanana family
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A family of tropical plants that includes bananas and plantains

is the common descriptive name used in everyday or regional speech

Surface Forms

banana family singular
banana families plural

Morphology

banana + family

The meaning is directly compositional: 'family' as a grouping applied to 'banana' yields the biological group containing bananas. This 'X family' taxonomic pattern is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows 'banana' and 'family' can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun banana family comes from thinking of a banana and its family of similar plants that look like small trees with big leaves. So banana family means a 'group' of related plants that includes the banana.