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

Dietary options: Carb-conscious, gluten-free, high-protein, keto, Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian, vegan, vegetarian Meal examples: Caribbean-spiced tilapia with mango salsa; beef and sweet potato taco skillet; harvest salad with chicken and bacon Cost: Meals start at $13 per serving. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 23 Dec. 2024

The high-end holiday meal includes a 38-ounce New York strip steak ($195 per person) with a side of sweet potato casserole ($19). —Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Dec. 2024

There are scallops with sour orange and tarragon sauce meunière; white sweet potato pommes fondantes, and morcilla croquembouche (annatto gougères with blood sausage, local goat cheese mousse, and malta caramel). —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2024

The strawberry and sweet potato tamales are hearty and filling, both flavors reminiscent of Mesoamerican culture. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 17 Dec. 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