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

The ceviche recipe also calls for leche de tigre, radishes, cucumber, sweet potato and canchas (a toasted corn snack) for some crunch. —Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2024

With a tender, custard center and warmly spiced flavors, sweet potato pie is a particular holiday favorite. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024

Sparks said washing the sweet potatoes should be enough to get the spray off, but another option is to purchase an organic sweet potato. —Alex Groves, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

Top with half of the sweet potato mixture and a third of the cheese. —Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024

Mari sat to my left and finished her sweet potato soup before anyone else. —Sanaë Lemoine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024

There were also things like gluten-free sweet potato wraps, multigrain pancake mix, and green juices. —Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024

This being winter, there’s sweet potato soup, warm with baking spices and sorghum molasses. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

Appetizers include egg rolls and sweet potato fries. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 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