yam Hear it!

yam definition

yam (yam)

noun

    1. the edible, starchy, tuberous root of any of several tropical climbing plants (genus Dioscorea) of the yam family, widely grown in the tropics for food
    2. any of these plants
  2. any of various other similar plants, as the barbasco
  3. ☆ a moist, orange-colored variety of sweet potato
  4. Scot. potato (sense )

Etymology: Port inhame, prob. < WAfr native name

adjective

designating a family (Dioscoreaceae, order Liliales), of climbing, chiefly tropical monocotyledonous plants, including the barbasco

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Wild Yam34 years ago

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