Illustration of cacao
- cacao 2
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇ 
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
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
Patricia Gadsby2
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
Kenneth ChangThe 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
Joanna Morris
Examples of cacao in a Sentence
a farmer who grows cacao
Recent Examples on the Web
The palate delivers layers of chocolate, roasted apple, and leather, complemented by cacao and a touch of spice.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
In other regions, wetter or drier conditions affect quintessential fall crops like pumpkins and cacao for Halloween candy.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024
Nestled within the former historic Paia Train Depot, about one mile up Baldwin Avenue, the studio offers drop-in classes ranging from gentle flow to belly dancing and also hosts teacher trainings, and special events, like cacao ceremonies and sound healing sessions.
—Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2024
To finish: a chocolate shell airbrushed to resemble something between a cacao pod and a mango, filled with mango mousse and a coconut milk fermented with koji to achieve a farmers-cheese consistency.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024
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Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
In other regions, wetter or drier conditions affect quintessential fall crops like pumpkins and cacao for Halloween candy.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024
Nestled within the former historic Paia Train Depot, about one mile up Baldwin Avenue, the studio offers drop-in classes ranging from gentle flow to belly dancing and also hosts teacher trainings, and special events, like cacao ceremonies and sound healing sessions.
—Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2024
To finish: a chocolate shell airbrushed to resemble something between a cacao pod and a mango, filled with mango mousse and a coconut milk fermented with koji to achieve a farmers-cheese consistency.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cacao
Dictionary Entries Near cacao
Cite this Entry
“Cacao.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacao. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇
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
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
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
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