sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine (Ipomoea batatas) of the morning-glory family that is often grown for its edible tuberous root or for its ornamental variously shaped green to purple leaves and usually white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers with pink to purple centers

also : the large thick sweet and nutritious tuberous root of the sweet potato that has beige, yellow, orange, red, or purple flesh and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable compare yam sense 2

2

: ocarina

Examples of sweet potato in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a matter of weeks the shoots, called slips, should start to appear and grow the starts for your sweet potato planting. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025

One medium sweet potato provides 3.8 grams of fiber, 2.3 grams of protein, and 103 calories.26 Sweet potatoes also contain carotenoids and other compounds that can help fight inflammation, support heart health, improve cognitive function, and protect against cancer. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 11 Feb. 2025

The dish: The seasonal vegetable pie features a thick, flaky crust wrapped around butternut squash, white sweet potato, carrots, celery and caramelized onions soaked in an herbed white wine sauce. —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025

While some days featured hearty fare like a sweet potato hash or rich tahini-cacao parfait, the flax bar and berry smoothie on days three and four were far from satisfying. —Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sweet potato

noun

1

: a tropical vine related to the morning glories and having variously shaped leaves and purplish flowers

also : its large sweet starchy root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

2

: ocarina