annattos
|an-nat-to|
🇺🇸
/əˈnæt.oʊ/
🇬🇧
/əˈnæt.əʊ/
(annatto)
natural dye
Etymology
'annatto' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'annatto' or regional 'achiote', ultimately from Nahuatl 'achiotl' (or a related indigenous American form), where the original term referred to the seeds of the Bixa plant used for coloring.
'annatto' entered English via Spanish in the 17th century; Spanish forms like 'anatto'/'achiote' come from Nahuatl 'achiotl' and related indigenous words, and over time the form stabilized in English as 'annatto'.
Initially it referred specifically to the seeds and the plant; over time the meaning broadened but has remained centered on the seeds and the pigment/food coloring derived from them.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'annatto': the reddish seeds of the tropical tree Bixa orellana, used as a spice and a natural orange-red food coloring.
Many traditional recipes use annattos to color rice and sauces.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a pigment or food coloring (annatto pigment) made from the seeds, producing an orange to reddish-orange hue used in butter, cheese, snacks, and sauces.
Commercial annattos are widely used to give butter and cheese a warm yellow-orange color.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having the color of annatto; reddish-orange in hue (used attributively, often as 'annatto-colored').
The chef added an annatto tint to the sauce to achieve a richer color.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/15 05:21