plural cacaos
1
or cacao bean : a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter : cocoa bean
… polyphenols also make cacao beans taste astringent and bitter.Patricia Gadsby
2
or cacao tree : a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained
Chocolate starts as the seeds in the fruits of the cacao tree, a tropical plant that produces flowers and fruit not at the tips of branches but on the trunk.Kenneth Chang
The cacao tree is native to the tropical countries of South America, but now grows in other parts of the world, notably Africa, the West Indies, and Central America.Joanna Morris

Illustration of cacao

Illustration of cacao
  • cacao 2

Examples of cacao in a Sentence

a farmer who grows cacao
Recent Examples on the Web Many popular candy brands offer a range of dark chocolates with varying amounts of cacao (shown as a percent). Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2024 Researchers investigating the insect fauna on cacao farms and plantations discovered a small, orange insect on the leaves of the cacao plants, according to a study published July 19 in the journal ZooKeys. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 22 July 2024 The Spooky Pumpkins features real pumpkin and classic fall spices, while the milk stout pairs similar spices with vanilla and cacao in a smooth, dark brew. Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Oct. 2024 This Side of Paradise At Dearly Beloved located in Chicago, this is a martini that brings together The Reid Single Malt Vodka, Bordiga Extra Dry, Giffard Banane, cacao, Italian lemon oil, pink grapefruit vinegar, and is then topped with a dramatic melon helium foam. Aly Walansky, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cacao 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cacao.' 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

Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cacao was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near cacao

Cite this Entry

“Cacao.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacao. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cacao

noun
ca·​cao kə-ˈkau̇ How to pronounce cacao (audio)
kə-ˈkā-ō
plural cacaos
1
: a South American tree that bears small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy yellow pods containing many seeds
2
: the dried fatty seeds of the cacao from which cocoa and chocolate are made

called also cacao bean

Medical Definition

cacao

noun
plural cacaos
1
: the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter

called also cacao bean, cocoa bean

2
: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods with many seeds that bear cacao

called also chocolate tree

More from Merriam-Webster on cacao

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