cassava
noun
cas·sa·va kə-ˈsä-və 
: 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
called also mandioca, manioc, yuca, yucca
compare tapioca sense 1Note: 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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Some of the sweaty cyclists are already making their return journeys, too, often with a passenger perched on the cargo rack where the cassava or the chickens had been. 
Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 Large-scale community gardens have thrived in vulnerable neighborhoods of the city in recent years, even transforming a former dump into organic plots of cassava and other vegetables. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2022 The tools, which unite the expertise of social scientists, gender experts and breeders, have been piloted in Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe to set priorities for the development of new lines of sweet potato, cassava and beans. Vivian Polar, Scientific American, 25 July 2022 In West Africa, a group of leading bakers met in June to form an organization that lobbies for more local grains, like cassava, to be used in breads across the region. Ryan Lenora Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 July 2022 Pour the milk mixture over the cassava flour and beat with a wooden spoon to combine. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 30 June 2022 This soft vanilla birthday cake donut is grain-free and packed with all-star ingredients like cassava flour, blanched almond flour, tapioca flour and coconut flour. Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022 Nearly every night, under the light from Odil Morgo’s attiéké (cassava) and fish stand on the northern edge of Dakar, fellow Burkinabé immigrants hold court, eating dinner, drinking coffee, and laughing. Nick Roll, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2022 In addition to a small menu of coffees, owner Alexandra Moran serves traditional Ecuadorian pastries like alfajores cookies and pan de yuca, a savory cheese bun made from cassava flour. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 22 June 2022 See More
Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 Large-scale community gardens have thrived in vulnerable neighborhoods of the city in recent years, even transforming a former dump into organic plots of cassava and other vegetables. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2022 The tools, which unite the expertise of social scientists, gender experts and breeders, have been piloted in Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe to set priorities for the development of new lines of sweet potato, cassava and beans. Vivian Polar, Scientific American, 25 July 2022 In West Africa, a group of leading bakers met in June to form an organization that lobbies for more local grains, like cassava, to be used in breads across the region. Ryan Lenora Brown, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 July 2022 Pour the milk mixture over the cassava flour and beat with a wooden spoon to combine. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 30 June 2022 This soft vanilla birthday cake donut is grain-free and packed with all-star ingredients like cassava flour, blanched almond flour, tapioca flour and coconut flour. Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022 Nearly every night, under the light from Odil Morgo’s attiéké (cassava) and fish stand on the northern edge of Dakar, fellow Burkinabé immigrants hold court, eating dinner, drinking coffee, and laughing. Nick Roll, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2022 In addition to a small menu of coffees, owner Alexandra Moran serves traditional Ecuadorian pastries like alfajores cookies and pan de yuca, a savory cheese bun made from cassava flour. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 22 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish cazabe cassava bread, from Taino caçábi
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined above