1
: any of several South American shrubs (genus Erythroxylon, family Erythroxylaceae)
especially
: one (E. coca) that is the primary source of cocaine
2
: dried leaves of a coca (especially Erythroxylon coca) containing alkaloids including cocaine
Examples of coca in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rural reform projects, such as a crop substitution program for coca and programs to help small farmers access land, moved at snail’s pace.
—
Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Portrait of the Shaman giving her gratitude to Pachamama using coca leaves as a daily routine.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024
Hyperinflation ran at more than 2,000%, the Maoist insurgency called Sendero Luminoso, or Shining Path, controlled half the country, Peru had suspended payments on its foreign debt and the country produced more coca, the base material of cocaine, than any other country.
—Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024
According to Rodriguez, Peruvian ancestral spiritual traditions around the fall equinox, known as Killa Raymi, include communal activities, like sharing stories and food, which included corn, potatoes, and coca leaves.
—Zayda Rivera, Parents, 2 July 2024
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Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024
Portrait of the Shaman giving her gratitude to Pachamama using coca leaves as a daily routine.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024
Hyperinflation ran at more than 2,000%, the Maoist insurgency called Sendero Luminoso, or Shining Path, controlled half the country, Peru had suspended payments on its foreign debt and the country produced more coca, the base material of cocaine, than any other country.
—Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024
According to Rodriguez, Peruvian ancestral spiritual traditions around the fall equinox, known as Killa Raymi, include communal activities, like sharing stories and food, which included corn, potatoes, and coca leaves.
—Zayda Rivera, Parents, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for coca
Dictionary Entries Near coca
Cite this Entry
“Coca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coca. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coca
noun
co·ca
ˈkō-kə 
: a South American shrub with leaves that are the source of cocaine
also
: its dried leaves
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