yucca

noun

yuc·​ca ˈyə-kə 

1

: any of a genus (Yucca) of sometimes arborescent plants of the asparagus family that occur in warm regions chiefly of western North America and have long sword-shaped often stiff fibrous-margined leaves on a usually woody base and bear a large panicle of white blossoms

2

: cassava

Illustration of yucca

Examples of yucca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca. —Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026

And yet another story was inscribed along the cliffs and slopes below a number of those viewpoints, where the wind had sent burning embers rocketing into the canyon, igniting extensive pockets of agave, yucca and various species of cactus. —New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Menu highlights include a yellowtail tiradito appetizer dressed in aji amarillo and finished with red onion relish, nori oil and a yucca chip; a bluefin tuna roll with Honeycrisp apple, shiso, shallots, horseradish and aged tamari; and creatively adorned nigiri pieces. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026

There’s kalanchoe, a redflower false yucca, propeller plants and thriving foxtail agaves. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Spanish yuca, of unknown origin

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for yucca

• plica
• pucca

Kids Definition

yucca

noun

yuc·​ca ˈyək-ə 

: any of a genus of plants that are related to the agaves, grow in warm dry regions mostly of western North America, have long pointed often stiff leaves, and produce a tall stiff stalk with whitish flowers