Va*nil"la (?), n. [NL., fr. Sp. vainilla, dim. of Sp. vaina a sheath, a pod, L. vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants, natives of tropical America.

2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and V. claviculata, remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odor, for the volatile, odoriferous oil extracted from them; also, the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc.

&fist; As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful.

Va*nil"la (?), n. [NL., fr. Sp. vainilla, dim. of Sp. vaina a sheath, a pod, L. vagina; because its grains, or seeds, are contained in little pods.]

1. (Bot.) A genus of climbing orchidaceous plants, natives of tropical America.

2. The long podlike capsules of Vanilla planifolia, and V. claviculata, remarkable for their delicate and agreeable odor, for the volatile, odoriferous oil extracted from them; also, the flavoring extract made from the capsules, extensively used in confectionery, perfumery, etc.

&fist; As a medicine, vanilla is supposed to possess powers analogous to valerian, while, at the same time, it is far more grateful.

• (countable) Any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla (especially V. planifolia), bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food or in perfumes.
  
• (Vanilla) (uncountable) The genus of this plant.
  
• (countable) The fruit or bean of this orchid.
  
• (uncountable) The extract of this fruit.
  
• (uncountable) The distinctive fragrant flavour/flavor characteristic of vanilla extract.
       You can tell that the secret ingredient missing from New CokeTM was vanilla, because certain South American economies collapsed when it was introduced, and miraculously revived when the old formula was used again.
  
• (uncountable) Any artificially produced homologue of vanilla extract, generally that produced from coal tar.
  
• Of or relating to vanilla.
       vanilla bean
  
• Flavoured/flavored with vanilla or vanilla extract (whether natural or artificial).
       vanilla ice cream
  
• (colloquial) By association with vanilla as the "plain" flavour of ice cream: the standard, plain, default, unmodified, basic.
       vanilla suit.