# tapioca

/tˌæpɪˈəʊkɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tapioca
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a white starch from the cassava root that cooks into soft, chewy balls or thickens soups and desserts.

For teachers: a starch extracted from cassava root, sold as flour, flakes, or pearls and used as a thickening agent and food ingredient.

## Examples

- I add tapioca pearls to my bubble tea.
- She stirs tapioca starch into the soup to make it thicker without changing the taste.
- Because tapioca thickens without clouding, pastry chefs prefer it for fruit fillings where clarity and gloss matter more than wheat flour can offer.

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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.