# coca

/ˈkoʊkə/ (US) · /kˈəʊkɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coca
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the plant or its leaves

noun · CEFR B2

a South American plant whose leaves are used to make cocaine or chewed for energy.

For teachers: a shrub native to the Andes, or its dried leaves, which contain alkaloids used to produce cocaine and are traditionally chewed as a stimulant.

- In some parts of the Andes, people chew coca leaves to help with altitude sickness.
- The cultivation of coca remains a complex political issue due to its dual role as a traditional medicinal herb and the raw material for illicit narcotics.

## Examples

- Farmers in the Andes have grown coca for centuries.
- The guide suggested chewing coca leaves to help us deal with the thin air at the mountain summit.
- While international treaties regulate the cultivation of coca due to its role in cocaine production, many indigenous communities defend its traditional use as a fundamental cultural right.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.