yucca

noun

yuc·​ca ˈyə-kə 

1

: any of a genus (Yucca) of sometimes arborescent plants of the agave 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Meza Calles said stands of Mojave yucca are being obliterated in ejidos in Baja California. —Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 28 Aug. 2022

Get the Leche de Tigre, which is small dices of fish and red onions that are marinated in lime juice with a touch of Peruvian spicy sauce, and a side order of the fried yucca. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022

While their tacos made right at the bar, chips and queso and guacamole are excellent, the restaurant also offers soft, sweet plantains with sour cream and fried yucca with amazing chimichurri. —Marialuisa Rincon, Chron, 25 May 2022

The toads and birds were riotous, including a hummingbird that darted around a red yucca. —Florence Williams, Outside Online, 1 Jan. 2020

Prince’s Plume, Harriman’s yucca, Claret Cup, prickly pear, and Parry’s biscuitroot can all be sighted among this Martian landscape. —J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 26 Apr. 2022

According to Texas Highways, visitors may also want to head approximately five hours north to pay a visit to Franklin Mountains State Park, home to the ocotillo, yucca, Southwestern barrel cactus, and Chihuahuan fishhook cactus. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2022

Thousands of years of climbing Since time immemorial, climbing has existed in the Bears Ears region, as evidenced by a 100-foot-long yucca rope discovered on Cedar Mesa that was made over 700 years ago. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 Dec. 2021

When a team correctly guesses, they are given some yucca strands. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 Dec. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Spanish yuca, of unknown origin

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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