jicama

noun

ji·​ca·​ma ˈhē-kə-mə How to pronounce jicama (audio)
: an edible starchy tuberous root of a tropical American vine (Pachyrhizus erosus) of the legume family that is eaten raw or cooked

Examples of jicama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Vietnam’s long associations with foreign entities allow for such fancies as pâté chaud, flaky puff pastry filled with a meaty interior of ground pork, foie gras, chicken pâté and diced jicama for some crunch. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 But on one spring evening, Fadul and her team served thin slices of the raw fruit, which tastes like a cross between jicama and cucumber. Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 Take root vegetables: If beets or radishes have always given you the ick, try out a different variety, like jicama or cassava. Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 26 Jan. 2024 The sprawling menu has a vague Caribbean bent, with jackfruit tacos dressed in jicama slaw and jerk burgers with fries, but the real gold is anything that lets all that great Gulf seafood shine. Melissa Clark, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 Make it: Slice up jicama to get a cup of matchstick slices, and dip into 1/4 cup guacamole. Women's Health, 28 Aug. 2023 Her tuna tartare is another standout in a bowl, with squares of tuna, jicama, avocado and cucumber swimming in a tamarind and pickled garlic vinaigrette. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023 Some ideas for lunch-friendly veggies include cucumber slices, celery, carrot, or jicama sticks dunked into a low-fat dip or hummus or a small container of cherry tomatoes or sugar snap peas. Lizzie Bertrand, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023 The crispy tortillas are then smeared with avocado, which has been mashed with lime and salt, then showered with finely diced fresh pineapple and pomegranate seeds, plus a crunch of jicama or radish. Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jicama.' 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

Mexican Spanish jícama, from Nahuatl xīcamatl

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jicama was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near jicama

Cite this Entry

“Jicama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jicama. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jicama

noun
ji·​ca·​ma ˈhē-kə-mə How to pronounce jicama (audio)
: a starchy root of a tropical American vine related to the pea and eaten raw or cooked
Etymology

Mexican Spanish jícama "a starchy root of a tropical American vine"

More from Merriam-Webster on jicama

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