coca

noun

co·ca | \ ˈkō-kə

Definition of coca

1 : any of several South American shrubs (genus Erythroxylon, family Erythroxylaceae) especially : one (E. coca) that is the primary source of cocaine

2 : dried leaves of a coca (especially Erythroxylon coca) containing alkaloids including cocaine

Examples of coca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Drug traffickers would clear swaths of forest, establish coca plantations and try to recruit local youths as drug couriers. — Carolina Schneider Comandulli, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2022 But this town, hours from any major city, is one of many where sustainable alternatives never arrived, and coca still dominates. — New York Times, 20 Apr. 2022 In the late 2000s, the ELN decided to eradicate the region’s coca, the base plant for producing cocaine, triggering a brutal conflict with the FARC. — Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2022 The product is low sugar, gluten and dairy free and comes in a coca and carob powdered formulation that is perfect for mixing into smoothies and creamy hot drinks. — Bridget Arsenault, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2021 The guerrillas were more interested in areas, unlike Mavecure, that were rife with coca bushes, whose leaves can be turned into cocaine. — John Otis, WSJ, 3 Feb. 2022 But the two appeared together in an October 2019 photograph celebrating Morales' birthday standing next to several cakes decorated with coca leaves. — Fox News, 4 Feb. 2022 Henry Romero/REUTERS Narcotics once originated in a handful of regions where their source plants could grow: marijuana in Mexico, coca in Colombia, opium poppies for heroin in Afghanistan. — David Luhnow, WSJ, 21 Jan. 2022 Don’t miss the coca leaf reading with Layka, a traditional Andean healer who’s been with the property for more than 20 years. — Annie Daly, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coca.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

29 Apr 2022

Cite this Entry

“Coca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coca. Accessed 22 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for coca

coca

noun

co·ca | \ ˈkō-kə

Medical Definition of coca

1 : any of several South American shrubs (genus Erythroxylon of the family Erythroxylaceae) especially : one (E. coca) that is the primary source of cocaine

2 : dried leaves of a coca (as Erythroxylon coca) containing alkaloids including cocaine