Annatto Definition
ənätō, änätō
annattos
noun
A tropical American evergreen shrub or small tree (Bixa orellana), having heart-shaped leaves and showy, rose-pink or sometimes white flowers.
American Heritage
A dye of reddish yellow made from the pulp around the seeds of a tropical dicotyledonous tree (Bixa orellana, family Bixaceae): it is used for coloring butter, cheese, varnishes, etc.
Webster's New World
The seed of this plant, used as a coloring and sometimes as a flavoring, especially in Latin American cuisine.
American Heritage
A yellowish-red dyestuff obtained from the arils of this plant's seeds, used especially to dye fabric and to color food products such as margarine and cheese.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Annatto
Noun
Singular:
annatto
Plural:
annattosOrigin of Annatto
Of Cariban origin
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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