cacao

ca·cao

noun \kə-ˈkau̇, kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō\

plural cacaos

Definition of CACAO

1

: the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter—called also cacao bean, cocoa bean

2

: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods with many seeds that bear cacao—called also chocolate tree