tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌta-pē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce tapioca (audio)
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

Examples of tapioca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 The new Front Street location will serve only self-service bubble teas with milk and tapioca pearls, and maybe some small food items. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2025 Cookies and cakes: For treats like cookies and cakes, substitute wheat flour with almond flour, cassava or tapioca flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour. Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Rdn, Health, 16 Apr. 2025 The menu finishes with a dessert of cacao pulp with tapioca and pink pepper. Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tapioca

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tapioca was in 1707

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tapioca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapioca. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

tapioca

noun
tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌtap-ē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce tapioca (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tapioca

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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