cassava

noun

cas·​sa·​va kə-ˈsä-və How to pronounce cassava (audio)
: any of several American plants (genus Manihot, especially M. esculenta) of the spurge family grown in the tropics for their edible tuberous roots which yield a nutritious starch
also : the root

called also mandioca, manioc, yuca, yucca

compare tapioca sense 1

Note: Since raw cassava contains glycosides which release cyanide when crushed, the leaves and roots must be soaked, cooked, or fermented before consumption to prevent poisoning.

Examples of cassava in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Set in a hidden pop-up restaurant within Art Basel’s Collector’s Lounge, the afternoon unfolded in an act of culinary theater—a multisensory journey exploring pineapple as a colonial legacy, cacao’s sacred role in Mesoamerican traditions, and cassava’s journey beyond the Amazon. Lilian Raji, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 The round flatbread is made from cassava, or yuca, flour that is cooked over a fire or on ceramic plates, with the exact preparation varying by country. Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2024 On a recent morning, Ms. Diallo, whose husband was killed in the courtyard, prepared okra and cassava dough in a home in Ivory Coast rented by her father, who fled Burkina Faso earlier this year with 12 other family members. Arlette Bashizi, New York Times, 15 Dec. 2024 Unlike his grandmother’s recipe, Reyes’ adaptation doesn’t require a full day behind the stove; the sweet, subtle flavor of cassava and bananas seamlessly meld with the vegetables and meat, culminating in a soul-soothing stew. Víctor Simarra Reyes, Saveur, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cassava 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish cazabe cassava bread, from Taino caçábi

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cassava was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near cassava

Cite this Entry

“Cassava.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cassava. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

cassava

noun
cas·​sa·​va kə-ˈsäv-ə How to pronounce cassava (audio)
: any of several tropical plants with a fleshy root that yields a nourishing starch
also : the root or its starch compare tapioca

More from Merriam-Webster on cassava

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