tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌta-pē-ˈō-kə 

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

: cassava

Examples of tapioca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 1-ounce formula is talc-free, vegan, and cruelty-free, and according to Native, it’s made with 10 ingredients, including tapioca starch. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Bubble tea, with its chewy tapioca boba pearls, was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s. — Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

However, many manufacturers use high-carb alternatives to wheat flour, such as tapioca starch or rice flour. — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 1 Sep. 2026

Dates and tapioca syrup do all the sweetening, which lands it at a Goldilocks level of sweet with no refined sugar. — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tapioca

• boca
• bocca
• broca
• cloaca
• coca
• loca
• phoca

Kids Definition

tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌtap-ē-ˈō-kə 

: 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