coca

noun

co·​ca ˈkō-kə 

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

Most exciting of all, a coca pouch the size of a wallet was sewn onto the primary cord. —Sam Kean, The Atlantic, 26 May 2025

The coca of Colombia, Erythroxylum novogranatense var. —Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025

The third and preferred option for advocates is to have coca descheduled, removed altogether from the shackles of the treaty, making coca freely available to all. —Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025

Coca-Cola was invented by Dr. John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist who created the formula in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard combining lime, cinnamon, coca leaves and the seeds of a Brazilian shrub to make the famous beverage. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua kuka

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for coca

• boca
• bocca
• broca
• cloaca
• loca
• phoca
• tapioca

Kids Definition

coca

noun

co·​ca ˈkō-kə 

: a South American shrub with leaves that are the source of cocaine

also : its dried leaves

Medical Definition

coca

noun

co·​ca ˈkō-kə 

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