jicama

American  

[hee-kuh-muh, hik-uh-] / ˈhi kə mə, ˈhɪk ə- /

noun

1. the large, edible, tuberous root of a tropical American plant, Pachyrhizus erosus, of the legume family, eaten as a vegetable either raw or boiled.

---

jicama British  

/ dʒɪˈkɑːmə, xɪkama /

noun

1. a pale brown turnip with crisp sweet flesh, originating in Mexico

---

Etymology

Origin of jicama

1900–05; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl xīcama, xīcamatl

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jicama

But on one spring evening, Fadul and her team served thin slices of the raw fruit, which tastes like a cross between jicama and cucumber.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2024

I included the usual suspects like cucumber, carrots and celery, but also radishes, jicama, cauliflower, broccoli and a couple things I'm not sure I had ever even had before in my quest for variety.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2023

The crispy tortillas are then smeared with avocado, which has been mashed with lime and salt, then showered with finely diced fresh pineapple and pomegranate seeds, plus a crunch of jicama or radish.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 2, 2023

Taste of Home lists some more, such as jicama, radicchio, vichyssoise and pho.

From Salon ● Dec. 5, 2022

Heather nibbles through her jicama and whole-grain roll, and blows me off while she eats her baby carrots.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson