Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cassava
Cas′sa-va
(kăs′sȧ-vȧ)
, Noun.
[F.
cassave
, Sp. cazabe
, fr. kasabi
, in the language of Haiti.] 1.
(Bot.)
A shrubby euphorbiaceous plant of the genus
Manihot
, with fleshy rootstocks yielding an edible starch; – called also manioc
. ☞ There are two species, bitter and sweet, from which the cassava of commerce is prepared in the West Indies, tropical America, and Africa. The bitter (
Manihot utilissima
) is the more important; this has a poisonous sap, but by grating, pressing, and baking the root the poisonous qualities are removed. The sweet (Manihot Aipi
) is used as a table vegetable. 2.
A nutritious starch obtained from the rootstocks of the cassava plant, used as food and in making tapioca.