tapioca

American  

[tap-ee-oh-kuh] / ˌtæp iˈoʊ kə /

noun

1. a food substance prepared from cassava in granular, flake, pellet pearl tapioca, or flour form, used in puddings, as a thickener, etc.

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tapioca British  

/ ˌtæpɪˈəʊkə /

noun

1. a beadlike starch obtained from cassava root, used in cooking as a thickening agent, esp in puddings

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Etymology

Origin of tapioca

First recorded in 1605–15; from Portuguese, from Tupi tipioca, more literally, “pulp squeezed out” (of cassava plants), from tipi “dregs, residue” + oca “to squeeze out”

Explanation

Tapioca is a starchy grain that comes from the cassava plant. Tapioca is sometimes processed in small round balls, like the ones you'll find in tapioca pudding, or larger spheres, like the ones in Asian bubble tea. People in tropical countries often rely on tapioca as a staple food, although it doesn't provide much in the way of nutrients. Tapioca can also be used in cooking to thicken desserts and sauces, particularly in its powdered form. Tapioca comes from a Tupi word, tipioca, "juice of pressed cassava," from the roots tipi, "residue," and ok, "to squeeze."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tapioca

Pediatricians have long warned that tapioca pearls can pose a choking hazard.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 1, 2026

Menu items range from $1.19 for the soft serve to $4.99 for its “super-triple” milk tea with tapioca pearls, pudding and coconut jelly toppings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2026

Not to be confused with chewy tapioca boba, these popping pearls are thin, gel-like spheres that burst in your mouth.

From Salon ● May 17, 2025

They’re used for a tea-based drink that includes tapioca balls at the bottom of the cup.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2024

After the sandwich there’s tapioca pudding and chocolate-covered graham crackers, which I love almost as much as Christmas.

From "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor