noun
coca
KOH-kuh
noun
1
A South American shrub whose leaves are chewed or brewed as a mild stimulant and are the source of cocaine.
"Farmers in the Andes have grown coca for centuries."
How to Use Coca
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plant whose leaves are the raw source of cocaine, traditionally chewed in South America for a mild stimulant effect.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "cocoa," the chocolate ingredient — they sound alike but are unrelated plants.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
cocas plural, cocas plural, Cocas plural
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Farmers in the Andes have grown _____ for centuries.
Etymology
Borrowed via Spanish from Quechua kuka.