cassava
cassava Lexical Profile
• noun
The starchy, tuberous root of the cassava plant, consumed as a staple carbohydrate in many tropical regions and used to produce tapioca.
"She prepared a hearty traditional stew thickened with grated cassava and coconut milk."
A woody shrub of the spurge family (Manihot esculenta), native to South America and extensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide for its tuberous roots.
"Agricultural scientists are developing disease-resistant strains of cassava to improve yields for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa."
Word Nuance & Usage
Cassava is often called 'yuca' in culinary contexts, which is frequently confused in English with 'yucca' (a completely unrelated ornamental desert plant).
• Rhymes for cassava
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Mid-16th century: from Spanish 'cazabe' and Portuguese 'cassave', both ultimately derived from the Taíno word 'casavi', which referred to the bread made from the root.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.