Illustration of cacao
- cacao 2
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇ 
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
plural cacaos
1
or cacao bean
: a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter : cocoa bean
… polyphenols also make cacao beans taste astringent and bitter.—
Patricia Gadsby
Patricia Gadsby2
or cacao tree
: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained
Chocolate starts as the seeds in the fruits of the cacao tree, a tropical plant that produces flowers and fruit not at the tips of branches but on the trunk.—Kenneth Chang
Kenneth ChangThe cacao tree is native to the tropical countries of South America, but now grows in other parts of the world, notably Africa, the West Indies, and Central America.—Joanna Morris
Joanna Morris
Examples of cacao in a Sentence
a farmer who grows cacao
Recent Examples on the Web
The cacao nibs, besides having great chocolate flavor, add a subtle crunch to the cookie.
—Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Haas customized a tour for this group, combining opportunities to meet with Afro-Costa Ricans featured in the series, including writer Quince Duncan and cacao farmer Daniel South, and to participate in activities like cooking classes, ziplining, and white water rafting.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025
An ounce of dark chocolate containing 70-85% cacao solids contains 64.6 milligrams of magnesium, or 15% of the DV.23
Try pairing dark chocolate with other magnesium-rich ingredients, like nuts and seeds.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Toddler Insists On Tasting Dad’s Raw Cacao, His Reaction Is Everything
By
Jack Beresford
Senior Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
A dad of three couldn't help but laugh after his 3-year-old son demanded a taste of cacao—only to almost instantly regret it.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacao
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show current usage.
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Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Haas customized a tour for this group, combining opportunities to meet with Afro-Costa Ricans featured in the series, including writer Quince Duncan and cacao farmer Daniel South, and to participate in activities like cooking classes, ziplining, and white water rafting.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025
An ounce of dark chocolate containing 70-85% cacao solids contains 64.6 milligrams of magnesium, or 15% of the DV.23
Try pairing dark chocolate with other magnesium-rich ingredients, like nuts and seeds.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Toddler Insists On Tasting Dad’s Raw Cacao, His Reaction Is Everything
By
Jack Beresford
Senior Life and Trends Reporter
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
0
A dad of three couldn't help but laugh after his 3-year-old son demanded a taste of cacao—only to almost instantly regret it.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacao
Cite this Entry
“Cacao.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacao. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇
kə-ˈkā-ō
plural cacaos
1
: a South American tree that bears small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy yellow pods containing many seeds
2
: the dried fatty seeds of the cacao from which cocoa and chocolate are made
called also cacao bean
Medical Definition
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
plural cacaos
1
: the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter
called also cacao bean, cocoa bean
2
: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods with many seeds that bear cacao
called also chocolate tree
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