cassava

noun

cas·​sa·​va kə-ˈsä-və 

: 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

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

The vault’s focus on seeds also neglects crucially important food crops such as cassava that are not typically propagated through seeds. —Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

These snacks blended local ingredients (such as coconut, corn, peanuts, and cassava) with Portuguese recipes (cakes, biscuits, and pastries) and African techniques, rites, and beliefs. —Beatriz Miranda, refinery29.com, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish cazabe cassava bread, from Taino caçábi

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cassava

noun

cas·​sa·​va kə-ˈsäv-ə 

: any of several tropical plants with a fleshy root that yields a nourishing starch

also : the root or its starch compare tapioca