yam
English
/jæm/
noun
Definitions
- Any climbing vine of the genus Dioscorea in the Eastern and Western hemispheres, usually cultivated.
- The edible, starchy, tuberous root of that plant, a tropical staple food.
- (US) A sweet potato; a tuber from the species Ipomoea batatas.
- (Scotland) Potato.
- (NZ) A oca; a tuber from the species .
- (Malaysia) Taro.
- An orange-brown colour, like the flesh of the yam.
Etymology
Borrowed from Portuguese inhame borrowed from Spanish, Castilian ñame derived from Wolof ñàmbi (cassava).
Origin
Wolof
ñàmbi
Gloss
cassava
Concept
Semantic Field
Agriculture and vegetation
Ontological Category
Person/Thing