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
Befitting Grenada’s reputation as the Spice Island, the Alchemy Bar teaches guests how to make their own facial scrub using ingredients like cinnamon, nutmeg, cacao, and clove—a fragrant souvenir.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 3 Apr. 2025
Plus there’s two delicious flavors to choose from: banana cinnamon and peanut butter cacao.
—Vogue, 30 Mar. 2025
Twists On Tradition Throughout the bushwacker’s history, different places have put their own spin on the ingredient list, but the drink usually contains some combo of rum, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, amaretto and coconut cream, thickened with milk, half-and-half or ice cream.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025
Nature ruled these volcanic strips of land until the Portuguese Empire arrived in the 1400s and trafficked slaves from West and Central Africa to grow sugar and cacao.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacao
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Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 3 Apr. 2025
Plus there’s two delicious flavors to choose from: banana cinnamon and peanut butter cacao.
—Vogue, 30 Mar. 2025
Twists On Tradition Throughout the bushwacker’s history, different places have put their own spin on the ingredient list, but the drink usually contains some combo of rum, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, amaretto and coconut cream, thickened with milk, half-and-half or ice cream.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025
Nature ruled these volcanic strips of land until the Portuguese Empire arrived in the 1400s and trafficked slaves from West and Central Africa to grow sugar and cacao.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 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 9 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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