yam

"Yam" is a straightforward word with a couple of related meanings, both connected to food. It refers to a type of root vegetable, and in some parts of the world it is also used to describe a similar but different vegetable. Simple, useful, and delicious!

1nountropical root vegetable

A yam is a large root that grows underground in tropical countries, especially in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. It has rough, dark brown skin and starchy white or yellow flesh inside. People boil, fry, or mash it — think of it like a potato, but bigger and starchier.

food / everyday language · Modern, widely used

She peeled the yam and cut it into chunks before boiling it.

Pounded yam is a popular dish in many West African countries.

The market stall was piled high with yams of all sizes.

2nounsweet potato (informal American usage)

In the United States, people often call a sweet potato a 'yam,' even though technically they are different plants. The sweet potato has orange flesh and a sweeter taste. If you see 'yam' on an American menu or recipe, it almost always means this orange sweet potato.

food / American English · Modern, widely used in American English

We had candied yams with marshmallows at Thanksgiving dinner.

The recipe calls for two cups of mashed yam, but you can use sweet potato instead.

He bought a bag of yams at the grocery store to make a pie.