Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tropical starchy tuberous root: "dasheen" refers to the edible, starchy, tuberous root of a tropical plant, particularly taro (Colocasia esculenta).
   • The herbaceous plant itself: "dasheen" can also name the tropical herbaceous plant of the Pacific islands, cultivated for its edible root and, in temperate regions, as an ornamental plant for its large, glossy leaves.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The market sold fresh dasheen alongside yams and cassava.
  • She grows dasheen in her garden for its beautiful foliage.
  • The traditional dish is made with boiled and mashed dasheen.

Advanced Usage

• Culinary Context: The term is often used in Caribbean and Southern U.S. cooking to refer specifically to the root vegetable, which is a type of taro.
  • Jamaican dasheen is a key ingredient in many soups and stews.

Variants and Related Words

• Taro: The more common general name for the same plant and its corm.
• Eddoe / Eddo: A related variety of taro with smaller corms.
• Cocoyam: A name used in some regions for similar root vegetables, including taro and yautia.

Synonyms

• Taro root
• Colocasia (scientific genus name)

Related Phrases

• Dasheen leaf: Refers to the large leaf of the plant, which is also edible when cooked properly.
  • Callaloo is sometimes made with dasheen leaves.

Noun

1. tropical starchy tuberous root
2. herb of the Pacific islands grown throughout the tropics for its edible root and in temperate areas as an ornamental for its large glossy leaves
3. edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants