coca

noun co·ca \ ˈkō-kə \

|Updated on: 30 Jul 2018

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

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Recent Examples of coca from the Web

The president-elect aims to completely eradicate coca, supporting the use of aerial spraying to do so.

— renae reints, Fortune, "Populist Conservative Iván Duque Elected President of Colombia," 18 June 2018
Although the United States has poured billions of dollars into fighting Colombia’s coca crops — the raw ingredient of cocaine — the problem is as bad as ever.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Ivan Duque beats former guerrilla to win Colombia's presidential election," 17 June 2018
The two younger children, a boy and girl, showed lower levels of coca use.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "How Inca Mummies Helped a Soccer Player Who Was Banned from the World Cup," 29 June 2018
More than half of this amount came from Colombia, where coca-bush cultivation has significantly increased.

— The Economist, "Global drug production," 28 June 2018
Indigenous groups living in the Andes have consumed coca for hundreds of years.

— National Geographic, "How Ancient Mummies Helped This Soccer Player Get to the World Cup," 26 June 2018
Duque, meanwhile, has pledged to redouble efforts to combat a record surge of coca - the building bloc of cocaine.

— anthony faiola, chicagotribune.com, "'D.C. Colombian' squares off against former guerrilla as Colombians vote," 17 June 2018
Crops of coca plants, the raw material of cocaine, set records last year, earning the displeasure of President Trump.

— chris kraul, latimes.com, "Right-wing candidate has the edge going into Colombia's presidential election," 16 June 2018
Cocaine, the main active ingredient in coca leaves, was isolated in the 19th century.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "How Inca Mummies Helped a Soccer Player Who Was Banned from the World Cup," 29 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of coca

Spanish, from Quechua kuka

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1577

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

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