cassava
n. C / Un. a tropical plant with a thick, starchy root that people eat as a vegetable. It is a very important food source in many parts of Africa and South America.
n. a woody shrub of the spurge family, native to South America, cultivated for its edible, starchy tuberous roots. The roots are a staple food in tropical regions and are processed into various products like tapioca and cassava flour.
Cassava is a common vegetable in many tropical countries.
Farmers in the region rely heavily on cassava because it can grow in poor soil where other crops might fail.
While cassava provides a significant source of calories, it must be processed carefully to remove toxic compounds before it is safe for human consumption.
Borrowed from Spanish cazabe, from Taíno kasabi (“cassava flour”) (whence Garifuna sibiba), from Proto-Arawak sapi.