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

Large companies placing key commodities—such as soy, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, wood or cattle products—on the EU market will be required to submit detailed due diligence statements. —Florent Bouguin, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

This nourishment comes via a blend of botanical oils and butters—namely coconut, sunflower, cocoa, and shea. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025

That plant will still have to factor in tariff effects on raw materials like cocoa, imported from countries such as Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Indonesia and Malaysia. —Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025

Expect cozy notes of bourbon vanilla, vanilla Madagascar, amyris, and cocoa shell, plus a superfine champagne sparkle that gives skin a radiant gleam. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 15 Aug. 2025

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