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

Step 6 Using a ladle, divide the sweet potato mixture among the ramekins. —Joe Yonan, Saveur, 23 Jan. 2025

The original clientele was racially diverse and stuck around for the roast beef, Salisbury steak, sweet potato pie and banana splits. —Corina Knoll, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025

Menu Cuisine: American What to order: Fried pork chops, sweet potato fries — and, yes, mac and cheese is a veggie here. —Melissa Oyler and, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2025

Main course options are a sweet potato harissa bowl or short rib pasta. —Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 3 Jan. 2025

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