cacao

(kə kāō, -kä-)

noun pl. cacaos

  1. a tropical American tree (Theobroma cacao) of the sterculia family, bearing large, elliptical seedpods
  2. the nutritious seeds () of this tree, from which cocoa and chocolate are made

Origin: Sp < Nahuatl kakawaλ, cacao seed

See cacao in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ca·ca·os
  1. An evergreen tropical American tree (Theobroma cacao) having leathery, ellipsoid, ten-ribbed fruits borne on the trunks and older branches. Also called chocolate tree.
  2. The seed of this plant, used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter. Also called cacao bean, cocoa bean.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish

Origin: , from Nahuatl cacahuatl

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