tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌta-pē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce tapioca (audio)
1
: a usually granular preparation of cassava starch used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid food
also : a dish (such as pudding) containing tapioca
2

Examples of tapioca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The tapioca pearls will be ready to serve with your beverage flavor of choice after at least a half hour of soaking. Su-Jit Lin, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2023 Pureed watermelon is mixed with finely ground tapioca and sugar, and heated until the tapioca dissolves. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 16 July 2023 A little starch is a good thing, but ingredients like cornstarch, flour and tapioca can also muffle your stew’s most exciting flavors. Julia Moskin, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2023 Luckily, Keto Goods has introduced a new fiber supplement made from tapioca. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2023 In addition to rabbit meals, this dog food includes other great ingredients such as peas and tapioca. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023 Quick-cooking tapioca thickens the spread that pairs equally well with hearty new potatoes. Kristy Alpert, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2023 Ansell’s favorites include rice starch, silica, zinc oxide, and tapioca starch, as they are all considered safe for use. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 31 May 2023 Bubble tea, also known as boba, is an iced tea infused with milk or fruit and served with tapioca balls or other toppings. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tapioca.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tapioca was in 1707

Dictionary Entries Near tapioca

Cite this Entry

“Tapioca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapioca. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

tapioca

noun
tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌtap-ē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce tapioca (audio)
: grains or flakes of starch from the cassava root that are used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid foods
also : a food (as pudding) that contains tapioca

More from Merriam-Webster on tapioca

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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