cassava
noun
cas·sa·va
| \ kə-ˈsä-və
\
\
Definition of cassava
: any of several American plants (genus Manihot, especially M. esculenta) of the spurge family grown in the tropics for their edible tuberous roots which yield a nutritious starch
also
: the root — compare tapioca sense 1
Note: Since raw cassava contains glycosides which release cyanide when crushed, the leaves and roots must be soaked, cooked, or fermented before consumption to prevent poisoning.
Examples of cassava in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another project involves collecting photos of cassava leaves to develop software that helps farmers identify diseases. — The Economist, "How Africa can encourage home-grown maths boffins," 8 Aug. 2019 Many of the sides include peri seasoning, including cassava fries, paneer, corn and rice (regular sides, one for $2.95, two for $5; large sides are $3.95). — Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, "First Look: Craving Nando’s-style chicken? The Bay Area now has the Port of Peri Peri," 30 July 2019 Other than cassava and oil palm, all are important U.S. crops. — Deepak Ray, The Conversation, "Climate change is affecting crop yields and reducing global food supplies," 9 July 2019 In the Amazon rainforest of Venezuela, Yanomami hunter-gatherers subsist on cassava, palm hearts and wild banana. — Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, "Scientists Race to Preserve the Biodiversity Inside Our Bodies," 30 June 2019 This suggests they were used mainly on seeds (possibly from cassava) smaller than the cashews which today’s monkeys pound, meaning hammerstone and anvil often came into contact with one another. — The Economist, "Capuchin monkeys have been using stone tools for around 3,000 years," 27 June 2019 Bubble tea pearls, or boba pearls, are usually made out of tapioca, a starch extracted from the roots of cassava plants. — Samantha Lauriello, Health.com, "Are Bubble Tea Pearls Safe? We Asked a Doctor for the Facts," 13 June 2019 Try the local cassava root, which sustained Viet Cong soldiers for years, and emerge from the bunkers to enjoy a traditional lunch by the river. — National Geographic, "Southeast Asia Family Journey: Vietnam to Cambodia," 12 June 2019 Trader Joe's claims their product contains about 75% cauliflower, as well as cassava flour, potato starch, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Cauliflower Gnocchi Is the Low-Carb Dinner Pasta Lovers Need to Try," 8 May 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cassava.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cassava
cassava
noun
English Language Learners Definition of cassava
: a tropical plant with thick roots that are used to make small white grains (called tapioca) that are used in cooking
See the full definition for cassava in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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