cacao

noun

ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇  kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō 

plural cacaos

1

or cacao bean : a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter : cocoa bean

… polyphenols also make cacao beans taste astringent and bitter.

—Patricia Gadsby

2

or cacao tree : a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained

Chocolate starts as the seeds in the fruits of the cacao tree, a tropical plant that produces flowers and fruit not at the tips of branches but on the trunk.

—Kenneth Chang

The cacao tree is native to the tropical countries of South America, but now grows in other parts of the world, notably Africa, the West Indies, and Central America.

—Joanna Morris

Illustration of cacao

• cacao 2

Examples of cacao in a Sentence

a farmer who grows cacao

Recent Examples on the Web

Two-time European Pastry Cup Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie-winning pastry chef Martin Chiffers sculpted it from 75 percent Tanzanian cacao. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026

According to Christian Vargas García, TARS lead curator and plant breeder, the archipelago’s historic records of cacao go back to the 1700s. —Sandra Guzman, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

Try the Lockdown, which features tequila, coffee, black tea, and cacao. —Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026

Adding them to your breakfast is simple: Toss a handful of blueberries or raspberries onto your oatmeal or yogurt, mix a square of dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao) into warm oats, or drizzle extra virgin olive oil over avocado toast or eggs. —Lauren Manaker, SELF, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cacao

• cacao butter
• crème de cacao

Rhymes for cacao

• buteo
• vireo

Kids Definition

cacao

noun

ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇ 

kə-ˈkā-ō

plural cacaos

1

: a South American tree that bears small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy yellow pods containing many seeds

2

: the dried fatty seeds of the cacao from which cocoa and chocolate are made

called also cacao bean

Medical Definition

cacao

noun

ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇  kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō 

plural cacaos

1

: the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) 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