tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌta-pē-ˈō-kə 

1

: a usually granular preparation of cassava starch used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid food

also : a dish (such as pudding) containing tapioca

2

: cassava

Examples of tapioca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nearly flavorless beads could be integrated into everyday foods, according to the ACS, and even formed into tapioca-like balls for desserts or bubble teas. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Gluten-Free Bread Gluten-free bread is typically made with corn, cassava, potato, tapioca, and rice starch. —Lindsey Desoto, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025

Young woman holding and drinking tapioca pearl bubble milk tea with glass straw. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025

In place of wheat, Pamela’s uses a mixture of brown rice flour, sorghum flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, and gluten-free oat bran. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tapioca

• boca
• bocca
• broca
• cloaca
• coca
• loca
• phoca

Kids Definition

tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌtap-ē-ˈō-kə 

: grains or flakes of starch from the cassava root that are used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid foods

also : a food (as pudding) that contains tapioca