Found 2 items, similar to Tonka bean.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: tonka bean tonka bean n 1: fragrant black nutlike seeds of the tonka bean tree; used in perfumes and medicines and as a substitute for vanilla [syn: coumara nut] 2: tall tropical South American tree having pulpy egg-shaped pods of fragrant black almond-shaped seeds used for flavoring [syn: tonka bean tree, Coumarouna odorata, Dipteryx odorata ]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Tonka bean Tonka bean \Ton"ka bean`\ [Cf. F. onca, tonka.] (Bot.) The seed of a leguminous tree (Dipteryx odorata), native of Guiana. It has a peculiarly agreeable smell, and is employed in the scenting of snuff. Called also tonquin bean. [Written also tonca bean, tonga bean.] [1913 Webster] Bean \Bean\ (b[=e]n), n. [OE. bene, AS. be['a]n; akin to D. boon, G. bohne, OHG. p[=o]na, Icel. baun, Dan. b["o]nne, Sw. b["o]na, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.] 1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly of the genera Faba, Phaseolus, and Dolichos; also, to the herbs. [1913 Webster] Note: The origin and classification of many kinds are still doubtful. Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and China bean, included in Dolichos Sinensis; black Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, Dolichos Lablab; the common haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole beans, all included in Phaseolus vulgaris; the lower bush bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, variety nanus; Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, Phaseolus multiflorus; Windsor bean, the common bean of England, Faba vulgaris. [1913 Webster] As an article of food beans are classed with vegetables. [1913 Webster] 2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans. [1913 Webster] Bean aphis (Zo["o]l.), a plant louse (Aphis fab[ae]) which infests the bean plant. Bean fly (Zo["o]l.), a fly found on bean flowers. Bean goose (Zo["o]l.), a species of goose (Anser segetum ). Bean weevil (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil that in the larval state destroys beans. The American species is Bruchus fab[ae] . Florida bean (Bot.), the seed of Mucuna urens, a West Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments. Ignatius bean, or St. Ignatius's bean (Bot.), a species of Strychnos. Navy bean, the common dried white bean of commerce; probably so called because an important article of food in the navy. Pea bean, a very small and highly esteemed variety of the edible white bean; -- so called from its size. Sacred bean. See under Sacred. Screw bean. See under Screw. Sea bean. (a) Same as Florida bean. (b) A red bean of unknown species used for ornament. Tonquin bean, or Tonka bean, the fragrant seed of Dipteryx odorata, a leguminous tree. Vanilla bean. See under Vanilla. [1913 Webster]