acai

noun

ˌä-ˌsä-ˈē How to pronounce acai (audio)
-sī-ˈē
variants or less commonly açai
1
a
or acai berry or less commonly açai berry : a small, dark purple, berrylike fruit with a juicy pulp that is often used in beverages or eaten raw and that is produced by a tall, slender palm (Euterpe oleracea) native to tropical rainforests of Central and South America

Note: Acai is a single-seeded drupe that grows in large clusters. In the Brazilian Amazon [Rainforest], acai makes up an important part of the local diet and is often prepared as a mash with cassava pulp.

b
or acai palm or less commonly açai palm : the palm (Euterpe oleracea) that produces acai berries
2
: a beverage made from the juice of the acai berry
Rio de Janeiro is the city that worships health and beauty and where the healthy and the beautiful drink acai.Alex Bellosz

Examples of acai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pizza Shuttle replaced Paper Plane Pizza, and Goodland Greens moved into the former home of salad and sandwich spot Greenhouse and Make Waves, which served acai bowls and smoothies. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2024 Guests who want to soak up the ambiance can stay in a rustic-luxe treehouse, villa, or hacienda rental and opt in for yoga, healthy juices, and acai bowls in the morning. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 It’s made with a mix of Squalane, acai oil, vitamins C and E, and Kakadu plum, with the goal of pampering your skin and giving you deep hydration to reduce crepiness. Korin Miller, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2024 Choose from signature acai bowls and smoothies, or build your own. Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for acai 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acai.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Brazilian Portuguese assaí, uaçaí, açaí, the palm Euterpe oleracea, borrowed from Tupi *ɨβasaí, from ɨβá "plant, fruit" + an element of uncertain meaning

First Known Use

circa 1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of acai was circa 1861

Dictionary Entries Near acai

Cite this Entry

“Acai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acai. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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