yam
Yam (noun) means a starchy edible root grown as a staple food in tropical regions. Example: “Boiled yam is a common side dish in West African cooking.”
How to use yam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA starchy root vegetable, though what counts as a "yam" differs — true yams are a different plant from the sweet potatoes Americans often call yams.
In the US, "yam" is often used loosely for sweet potato; true yams (genus Dioscorea) are a different, starchier vegetable more common in African and Caribbean cooking.
Word forms
yammed past tense, yammed past tense, yams plural, yams plural, Yams plural, yams singular, yams singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Boiled _____ is a common side dish in West African cooking.
Etymology
Borrowed from Portuguese inhame and Spanish ñame, likely from Wolof ñàmbi (“cassava”) or a related word. The term was spelled yam as early as 1657.
Synonyms
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See all rhymes for yam →Frequently asked questions
What does “yam” mean?
The word “yam” means a starchy edible root grown as a staple food in tropical regions. In plain terms, a starchy root vegetable, though what counts as a "yam" differs — true yams are a different plant from the sweet potatoes Americans often call yams.
How do you pronounce “yam”?
“Yam” is pronounced yam (/jæm/ in IPA).
How do you use “yam” in a sentence?
Here is “yam” used in a sentence: “Boiled yam is a common side dish in West African cooking.”
What part of speech is “yam”?
“Yam” is a noun.
How many meanings does “yam” have?
“Yam” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a starchy edible root grown as a staple food in tropical regions.
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