cassava
UK[kəˈsɑːvə]US[kəˈsɑːvə]
n
a tropical plant with thick roots that are used for making flour and tapioca.
n
the starchy root of this plant, eaten as food.
Etymology
the word 'cassava' entered english in the mid-16th century, derived from spanish 'cazabe' or portuguese 'aipim', 'mandioca'. these european forms trace back to the taino (arawak) word 'caçabi', referring to the flour or bread made from the manioc root. the term's journey from a specific indigenous american language into spanish and portuguese, and subsequently into english, reflects the colonial exchange of new world crops. the modern english meaning retains the core reference to the tropical plant and its edible starchy root, central to many cuisines.
Analysis
this word is a loanword adopted as a simplex unit. it does not contain separable morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
cassava is a staple food for millions of people in tropical regions.
the farmer harvested a large crop of cassava from his field.
tapioca pearls are made from the starch extracted from the cassava root.