sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family that is often grown for its edible tuberous root or for its ornamental variously shaped green to purple leaves and usually white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers with pink to purple centers

also : the large thick sweet and nutritious tuberous root of the sweet potato that has beige, yellow, orange, red, or purple flesh and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable compare yam sense 2

2

: ocarina

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her crunchy, homemade crust was perfectly complemented by the creamy, spiced goodness of the sweet potato filling. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024

Aldi’s meal, meanwhile, includes a similar basket of items with Butterball turkey, gravy, rolls, macaroni and cheese, stuffing plus ingredients to make cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, a sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

Plus, ingredients for cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie are included in the basket. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024

The company’s Thanksgiving basket shopping list includes a 16-pound Butterball turkey with spices, gravy, rolls, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, as well as ingredients for cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine related to the morning glories and having variously shaped leaves and purplish flowers

also : its large sweet starchy root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

2

: ocarina