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

Rice and tapioca starches are responsible for delivering that fresh, clean feel. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 18 June 2025

His cousins and other relatives also help — slicing raw fish and pouring tea with tapioca pearls. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025

Pawn Pouches Are One Example Some of his signature touching’s include prawn pouches, consisting of prawns with coconut masala, beef fry, tapioca patties, and clay pot fish curry. —Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Highlights from my dining included an heirloom tomato tart with local Cranky Goat cheese and sturgeon caviar from Rotorua, and Mount Cook salmon with yuzu and nori tapioca. —Kendall Hill, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2025

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