tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌta-pē-ˈō-kə 

1

: a usually granular preparation of cassava starch used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid food

also : a dish (such as pudding) containing tapioca

2

: cassava

Examples of tapioca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mica adds a light-reflecting sheen, tapioca starch absorbs excess oil, and pearl extract delivers amino acids to help moisturize and refresh hair. —Deanna Pai, Allure, 21 Feb. 2025

Substitutions: Potato starch can be replaced with cornstarch or tapioca starch. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025

Strawberry energy chew Ingredient list: Organic tapioca syrup, organic cane sugar, water, pectin, potassium citrate, citric acid, natural flavors, Vit B3/B6/B12, fruit blends of apple, blueberry, pomegranate Ultra-processed? —Matthew Kadey, Outside Online, 8 Feb. 2025

Brains have a consistency not unlike tapioca pudding. —The Atlantic Science Desk, The Atlantic, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tapioca

• boca
• bocca
• broca
• cloaca
• coca
• loca
• phoca

Kids Definition

tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌtap-ē-ˈō-kə 

: grains or flakes of starch from the cassava root that are used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid foods

also : a food (as pudding) that contains tapioca