sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family that is often grown for its edible tuberous root or for its ornamental variously shaped green to purple leaves and usually white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers with pink to purple centers

also : the large thick sweet and nutritious tuberous root of the sweet potato that has beige, yellow, orange, red, or purple flesh and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable compare yam sense 2

2

: ocarina

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Vegetarian options: Japchae made from sweet potato noodles, vegan kimbap with burdock root and pickled radish, egg salad sandwiches and more. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 20 June 2024

Like Ruth's Chris fan-favorite sweet potato casserole, our Sweet Potato Soufflé is topped with an irresistibly crumbly and sweet topping that contains brown sugar and pecans. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 14 June 2024

Photo: Getty Images Remember when our former president dined on lobster salad and sweet potato doughnuts with 50 of his richest supporters at Marcus Samuelsson’s award-winning Harlem restaurant? —Emma Specter, Vogue, 12 June 2024

Stick with whole food options, like sweet potato toast or homemade cauliflower buns. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 8 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine related to the morning glories and having variously shaped leaves and purplish flowers

also : its large sweet starchy root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

2

: ocarina