yam

[ yam ]

/ yæm /

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noun

the starchy, tuberous root of any of various climbing vines of the genus Dioscorea, cultivated for food in warm regions.

any of these plants.

the sweet potato.

Scot. potato (def. 1).

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Origin of yam

First recorded in 1580–90; compare Gullah nyam,Jamaican English nyaams, Sranan jamsi, from sources in one or more West African languages (compare Wolof nyam(nyam),Fulani nyami “to eat,” Twi εnãm “flesh”); earlier English forms, from Portuguese inhame or Spanish (i)ñame

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH yam

cassava, sweet potato, yam

Words nearby yam

Yalong Jiang, Yalow, Yalta, Yalta agreement, Yalu, yam, Yama, Yamagata, Yamamoto, Yamani, Yamasaki

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use yam in a sentence

The root grows similarly to potatoes, yams, or ginger by swelling underneath the earth to store nutrients for the following season.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cassava|Sylvio Martins|October 29, 2021|Eater
With the right setup, it’s possible to coax potatoes and their relatives, like yams, into sprouting both roots underwater and leaves in the air.
6 ways to magically regrow vegetables in only water|Natalie Wallington|October 7, 2021|Popular-Science
Following leads from other scientists, Syntex made a modified progesterone derived from the yam, one designed to survive the digestive tract and have more biological activity than progesterone.
Luis Miramontes helped enable the sexual revolution. Why isn’t he better known?|Carmen Drahl|September 21, 2021|Science News
He called his college roommate, Sam Yam, who immediately got to coding; within months, their website, Patreon, was launched.
Viral Video Pioneers: How Pomplamoose is Turning YouTube Stardom Into a Sustainable Profession|Oliver Jones|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The sorbet was tangy and was a tad tart while in the main course the pepper in the yam croquette brought it to life.
What Harry Ate|Tom Sykes|March 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But she didnae speak plain, ye maun understand; but yam-yammered, like a powny wi' the bit in its moo.
Masterpieces of Mystery, Vol. 1 (of 4)|Various
I carried a long stick, much longer than a waddy; perhaps it was a yam-stick—I cannot remember.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont|Louis de Rougemont
Taking a yam-stick as pointer, I would often draw roughly in the sand almost every animal in Nature.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont|Louis de Rougemont
It bears a long even-edged leaf about an inch wide; the taste somewhat resembled that of a yam.
A Voyage to the South Sea|William Bligh
Yams were in great abundance, very fine and large; one yam weighed above forty-five pounds.
A Voyage to the South Sea|William Bligh

British Dictionary definitions for yam

yam

/ (jæm) /

noun

any of various twining plants of the genus Dioscorea, of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated for their edible tubers: family Dioscoreaceae

the starchy tuber of any of these plants, which is eaten as a vegetable

Southern US any of certain large varieties of sweet potato

a former Scot name for the (common) potato

Word Origin for yam

C17: from Portuguese inhame, ultimately of West African origin; compare Senegal nyami to eat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012