Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tropical plant: "manioc" refers to a tropical plant (Manihot esculenta) with long, tuberous edible roots and soft, brittle stems. It is cultivated for its starchy roots.
   • The edible root of this plant: "manioc" also denotes the root itself, which is a staple food in many tropical regions after being processed to remove toxins.
   • A starch or flour: "manioc" can mean the starch or flour extracted from the cassava root, used to make foods like tapioca.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):
  • Farmers in the region grow manioc as a primary crop.
  • The manioc plant is drought-resistant.
• Noun (Root/Food):
  • The meal was made from dried and ground manioc.
  • Processing manioc correctly is essential to remove cyanide compounds.
• Noun (Starch/Flour):
  • She used manioc to thicken the soup.
  • Tapioca pearls are made from manioc starch.

Advanced Usage

• "Manioc flour": A common term for the flour made from ground cassava root.
  • Manioc flour is a key ingredient in Brazilian farofa.
• "Bitter manioc": A variety of the plant that contains higher levels of cyanogenic glycosides and requires extensive processing.
  • Bitter manioc must be soaked and cooked thoroughly before consumption.

Variants and Related Words

• Cassava: A more common synonym for the plant, root, and its products. "Manioc" and "cassava" are often used interchangeably.
  • Cassava is another name for manioc.
• Tapioca: A specific product, the starch extracted from the manioc root, often formed into pearls or flakes.
  • Tapioca pudding is made from manioc starch.
• Yuca: Another common name for the edible root, particularly in Spanish-speaking regions and the United States.
  • The store sells fresh yuca, which is manioc.

Synonyms

• Cassava: The most direct synonym for the plant and its root.
• Mandioca: A term used primarily in Portuguese-speaking countries.
• Brazilian arrowroot: An older, less common name for the starch.

Related Phrases

• Manioc meal: Coarse flour made from ground cassava root.
  • Manioc meal is used to make flatbreads.
• Manioc cultivation: The agricultural practice of growing cassava.
  • Manioc cultivation supports local economies.

Related Idioms

(No common idioms are directly based on the word "manioc." It is primarily a technical/botanical and culinary term.)

Noun

1. cassava with long tuberous edible roots and soft brittle stems; used especially to make cassiri (an intoxicating drink) and tapioca
2. cassava root eaten as a staple food after drying and leaching; source of tapioca
3. a starch made by leaching and drying the root of the cassava plant; the source of tapioca; a staple food in the tropics