tapioca

noun

tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌta-pē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce tapioca (audio)
1
: a usually granular preparation of cassava starch used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid food
also : a dish (such as pudding) containing tapioca
2
: cassava

Examples of tapioca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The lobster is presented with a crispy tapioca rice layer that creates a shell around it. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Boba, or bubble tea, is sweetened tea with milk, ice, and those signature chewy tapioca pearls. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 These snappy, oblong toasts are made with a blend of rice, tapioca, and potato flours, which are combined with a base of egg whites and tangy buttermilk. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026 Soluble tapioca and corn fibers can also add bulk and sweetness without the same sugar load as regular candy. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tapioca

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese, from Tupi tɨpɨʔóka

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tapioca was in 1707

Rhymes for tapioca

See All Rhymes for tapioca

Browse Nearby Words

tap into
tapioca
tapioca fish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tapioca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapioca. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tapioca

noun
tap·​i·​o·​ca ˌtap-ē-ˈō-kə How to pronounce tapioca (audio)
: grains or flakes of starch from the cassava root that are used especially in puddings and as a thickening in liquid foods
also : a food (as pudding) that contains tapioca

More from Merriam-Webster on tapioca

Nglish: Translation of tapioca for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tapioca

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