What does "manioc" mean?
The tropical plant Manihot esculenta, from which tapioca is prepared; cassava, yuca.
Manioc
/ˈmæ.niˌɑk/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The tropical plant Manihot esculenta, from which tapioca is prepared; cassava, yuca.
- Grammar: manioc is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cassava, bitter cassava, cassava plant, cassava starch.
- Usage evidence: 1975, William R. Bascom, African Dilemma Tales, Mouton (De Gruyter), page 86, The banana, the most important crop above ground, quarreled with the manioc, the most important underground crop. […] The manioc said that it, the yam, the sweet potato, and others were the ones that fed people and that without them people could not exist.
How to use "manioc"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "manioc" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "manioc" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "manioc" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "manioc" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "manioc" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cassava" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "manioc", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The tropical plant Manihot esculenta, from which tapioca is prepared; cassava, yuca. countable, uncountable, usually
"1975, William R. Bascom, African Dilemma Tales, Mouton (De Gruyter), page 86, The banana, the most important crop above ground, quarreled with the manioc, the most important underground crop. […] The manioc said that it, the yam, the sweet potato, and others were the ones that fed people and that without them people could not exist."
- 2 cassava with long tuberous edible roots and soft brittle stems; used especially to make cassiri (an intoxicating drink) and tapioca wordnet
- 3 Cassava root, eaten as a food. uncountable, usually
"In the morning, after a frugal breakfast of coffee and manioc - we had to be economical of our stores - we held a council of war as to the best method of ascending to the plateau above us."
- 4 cassava root eaten as a staple food after drying and leaching; source of tapioca wordnet
- 5 A food starch prepared from the root. uncountable, usually
Show 1 more definition
- 6 a starch made by leaching and drying the root of the cassava plant; the source of tapioca; a staple food in the tropics wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"1975, William R. Bascom, African Dilemma Tales, Mouton (De Gruyter), page 86, The banana, the most important crop above ground, quarreled with the manioc, the most important underground crop. […] The manioc said that it, the yam, the sweet potato, and others were the ones that fed people and that without them people could not exist."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "manioc"?
Common synonyms include: cassava, bitter cassava, cassava plant, cassava starch, gari, mandioc.
How do you use "manioc" in a sentence?
1975, William R. Bascom, African Dilemma Tales, Mouton (De Gruyter), page 86, The banana, the most important crop above ground, quarreled with the manioc, the most important underground crop. […] The manioc said that it, the yam, the sweet potato, and others were the ones that fed people and that without them people could not exist.
How do you pronounce "manioc"?
Pronounced /ˈmæ.niˌɑk/.
Etymology
From French manioc, through Portuguese mandioca, ultimately from Old Tupi mani'oka.