yucca

American  

[yuhk-uh] / ˈyʌk ə /

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Yucca, of the agave family, native to the warmer regions of America, having pointed, usually rigid, sword-shaped leaves and clusters of white, waxy flowers: the state flower of New Mexico.

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yucca British  

/ ˈjʌkə /

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Yucca, of tropical and subtropical America, having stiff lancelike leaves and spikes of white flowers: family Agaraceae See also Adam's-needle Spanish bayonet

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Etymology

Origin of yucca

1655–65; < New Latin, apparently < Spanish; perhaps originally identical with yuca yuca

Example Sentences

Classic examples include figs and fig wasps and yuccas and yucca moths.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

On Camino Escalante, Guthrie’s squat, orange brick house is set back from the road behind a lawn planted with prickly pear, agave, cholla and yucca.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

They ask for plantain, yucca or sugar cane.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

At any one time, there are only five people assigned to the station set on the edge of a sandy basin speckled with yucca and scrub.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2024

The day dawned, and already the time of youth was fleeing the house which the three giants of my dreams had built on the hill of juniper tree and yucca and mesquite bush.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya