cassava
Americannoun
-
any of several tropical American plants belonging to the genus Manihot, of the spurge family, as M. esculenta bitter cassava and M. dulcis sweet cassava, cultivated for their tuberous roots, which yield important food products.
-
a nutritious starch from the roots, the source of tapioca.
noun
-
Also called: manioc. any tropical euphorbiaceous plant of the genus Manihot, esp the widely cultivated American species M. esculenta (or utilissima ) ( bitter cassava ) and M. dulcis ( sweet cassava )
-
a starch derived from the root of this plant: an important food in the tropics and a source of tapioca
Etymology
Origin of cassava
First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish cazabe “cassava bread or meal,” from Taíno caçábi
Explanation
Cassava is a starchy tuber that comes from a South American shrub of the same name. In tropical countries, cassava is a common staple food. The most cassava is grown and eaten in Nigeria, and it's popular in many places because it grows even when there's not much rain or the soil is poor. Experts estimate that 800 million people depend on cassava. It has to be properly prepared to be safely eaten, either cooked like potatoes or ground into a coarse meal or fine flour. Tapioca, a starch found in pudding and bubble tea, is also made from cassava.
Vocabulary lists containing cassava
World Cuisine - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Cassava is one of the most strategic assets in our agricultural portfolio," Vice President Kashim Shettima said in July.
From Barron's • Oct. 15, 2025
The biopharma company Cassava Sciences announced last week that its experimental Alzheimer’s disease drug simufilam showed no signs of helping people in a phase 3 clinical trial.
From Science Magazine • Dec. 4, 2024
But there's a problem: Cassava is highly poisonous.
From Salon • May 6, 2024
The drug, simufilam, is made by Cassava Sciences, a pharmaceutical company based in Texas, and is in advanced clinical trials.
From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2023
They seemed to prefer foraging about flowers of the Tree Cassava.
From Birds from North Borneo University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History, Volume 17, No. 8, pp. 377-433, October 27, 1966 by Thompson, Max C.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
