n. 1 a long curved fruit with soft pulpy flesh and yellow skin when ripe, growing in clusters. 2 (in full banana-tree) the tropical and subtropical treelike plant, Musa sapientum, bearing this. banana republic derog. a small State, esp. in Central America, dependent on the influx of foreign capital. banana skin 1 the skin of a banana. 2 a cause of upset or humiliation; a blunder. banana split a sweet dish made with split bananas, ice-cream, sauce, etc. go bananas sl. become crazy or angry.
[ Port. or Sp., f. a name in Guinea ]