yam — a starchy tuber that is used as food, similar to a sweet potato
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a starchy tuber that is used as food, similar to a sweet potato
Pronunciation (IPA): /jæm/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's candied yams are so sweet, they could give candy a complex!
- The yam harvest was excellent this year.
- He confused a yam with a sweet potato at the grocery store.
yam
NOUN[/jæm/]
a starchy tuber that is used as food, similar to a sweet potato
Starchy tuber used as food
Grandma's yam jam pairs perfectly with ham!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'yam' originates from West African languages, where it derives from a root meaning 'to eat.' Portuguese traders encountered this word through their commercial activities in Africa and subsequently introduced it to the Americas, where the term became established in English to describe the starchy tuber vegetable.
Breakdown
nyami (West African root meaning 'to eat') → inhame (Portuguese adoption) → yam (English adaptation). The semantic shift reflects the association of the word with the cultivated root vegetable rather than the original verb meaning.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's candied yams are so sweet, they could give candy a complex!”
“The yam harvest was excellent this year.”
“He confused a yam with a sweet potato at the grocery store.”
“The purple yam made the most Instagram-worthy smoothie bowl!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Related
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