Illustration of cacao
- cacao 2
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 Sterculiaceae) 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
With a mix of hazelnut liqueur, créme de cacao, and a splash of his favorite bourbon, this tasty treat will quickly become one of dad's favorite drinks.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024
These include beverages made from chicory root, figs and barley, dandelion root, mushroom elixirs, cacao, rooibos and yerba maté.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Frozen cocktails include the Fly me to the Moon, made with Pearl vodka, espresso martini mix, cacao and coconut.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
My large cabin had rosewood floors and pine ceilings, plus a deck screened by cacao trees.
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2024
Most Popular Editor Tip: If CBD isn't your thing, Foria also makes a CBD-free version of the arousal oil formulated with organic botanicals such as kava root and cacao.
—Jamie Ballard, Allure, 28 Mar. 2024
The change, the biggest in nearly 10 years, will feature chocolate chips with a higher cacao content, according to the company's press release.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
Ritualistic and therapeutic uses of tobacco—along with cacao, flowers and other substances—were widely documented in early colonial accounts and continue to the present day, per the study.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
Another local family business, Malibu’s Happy to Be Here, sold its adaptogenic cacao blends.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024
These include beverages made from chicory root, figs and barley, dandelion root, mushroom elixirs, cacao, rooibos and yerba maté.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Frozen cocktails include the Fly me to the Moon, made with Pearl vodka, espresso martini mix, cacao and coconut.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
My large cabin had rosewood floors and pine ceilings, plus a deck screened by cacao trees.
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2024
Most Popular Editor Tip: If CBD isn't your thing, Foria also makes a CBD-free version of the arousal oil formulated with organic botanicals such as kava root and cacao.
—Jamie Ballard, Allure, 28 Mar. 2024
The change, the biggest in nearly 10 years, will feature chocolate chips with a higher cacao content, according to the company's press release.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024
Ritualistic and therapeutic uses of tobacco—along with cacao, flowers and other substances—were widely documented in early colonial accounts and continue to the present day, per the study.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
Another local family business, Malibu’s Happy to Be Here, sold its adaptogenic cacao blends.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cacao.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Spanish, from Nahuatl cacahuatl
First Known Use
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing cacao
Dictionary Entries Near cacao
Cite this Entry
“Cacao.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacao. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on cacao
Nglish: Translation of cacao for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cacao
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