kava

noun

ka·​va ˈkä-və 

1

: an Australasian shrubby pepper (Piper methysticum) from whose crushed root an intoxicating beverage is made

also : the beverage made from kava

2

: the dried rhizome and roots of the kava used especially as a dietary supplement chiefly to relieve stress and anxiety

Examples of kava in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At night, guests are invited to sit with the entire staff for a traditional taste of kava, a beverage made from water and the ground root of the pepper plant. —David Hochman, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Talk to your healthcare provider before consuming kava. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2024

However, despite some evidence linking kava to a slight reduction in anxiety, the herbal supplement has been associated with a risk of severe liver injury. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 15 July 2024

Hallucinations, yes — requiring blood transfusions, no. FDA says their testing found some compounds from the kava plant, which also does not cause these serious side effects. —Robert Johnson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Tongan & Marquesan, literally, bitter

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing kava

• kava kava

Medical Definition

kava

noun

ka·​va ˈkäv-ə 

1

: an Australasian shrubby pepper (Piper methysticum) from whose crushed root an intoxicating beverage is made

also : the beverage

2

: a preparation consisting of the ground dried rhizome and roots of the kava plant that is used as a dietary supplement chiefly to relieve stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness and in folk medicine especially as a diuretic and urogenital antiseptic and that has been linked to cases of severe liver injury