cocoa

noun

co·​coa ˈkō-(ˌ)kō 

1

a

: powdered ground roasted cacao beans from which a portion of the fat has been removed

b

: a beverage prepared by heating cocoa with water or milk

2

: cacao sense 2

3

: a medium brown color

Examples of cocoa in a Sentence

The recipe calls for three tablespoons of cocoa.

Recent Examples on the Web

There's perhaps nothing more satisfying than wrapping your hands around a warm cup of cocoa on a cold winter day. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

The coffee is creamy and cocoa-like, with about half the caffeine punch of a regular cup of coffee. —Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Jan. 2026

Houphouet-Boigny helped Ivory Coast’s economy grow significantly by scaling up the production of cocoa, coffee, coconuts and pineapples. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026

Cacao comes from a tropical South American evergreen tree, from which chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter originate. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

modification of Spanish cacao

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cocoa

• cocoa bean
• cocoa butter
• hot cocoa

Rhymes for cocoa

• koko
• loco
• poco
• sirocco

Kids Definition

cocoa

noun

co·​coa ˈkō-kō 

1

: a cacao tree

2

a

: powdered ground cacao beans from which some of the fat has been removed

b

: a beverage made from heating cocoa with water or milk

Medical Definition

cocoa

noun

co·​coa ˈkō-(ˌ)kō 

1

: cacao sense 2

2

a

: powdered ground roasted cacao beans from which a portion of the fat has been removed

b

: a beverage prepared by heating powdered cocoa with water or milk