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 toppings available included tapioca boba, lychee jellies, strawberry popping boba, mango puddings and crystal boba. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 4 June 2024

For a time, Grape-Nuts, the popular breakfast cereal, all but vanished, along with the tapioca beads used to make boba tea. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 2 June 2024

In comparison, bubble tea can be a bit more challenging to recreate—especially the chewy tapioca pearls that make these drinks so much fun. —Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2024

But Take Note There are a few more ingredients in these teething biscuits compared to other products on our list, including tapioca starch and sunflower lecithin, an emulsifier. —Lauren Capacete, Ms, Rd, Parents, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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