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View synonyms for
yam
[ yam ]
noun
- the starchy, tuberous root of any of various climbing vines of the genus Dioscorea, cultivated for food in warm regions.
- any of these plants.
- the sweet potato.
- Scot. potato ( def 1 ).
yam
/ æ /
noun
- any of various twining plants of the genus Dioscorea, of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated for their edible tubers: family Dioscoreaceae
- the starchy tuber of any of these plants, which is eaten as a vegetable
- any of certain large varieties of sweet potato
- a former Scot name for the (common) potato
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51Թ History and Origins
Origin of yam1
First recorded in 1580–90; compare Gullah nyam, Jamaican English nyaams, Sranan jamsi, from sources in one or more West African languages (compare Wolof nyam (nyam), Fulani nyami “to eat,” Twi εã “flesh”); earlier English forms, from Portuguese inhame or Spanish ()ñ
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51Թ History and Origins
Origin of yam1
C17: from Portuguese inhame, ultimately of West African origin; compare Senegal nyami to eat
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Example Sentences
Examples have not been reviewed.
Thanksgiving, for all its excess, is not a particularly textural meal—pillowy mashed potatoes, velvety gravy, candied yams collapsing under their own syrup.
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Making the traditional dough-like dish fufu, for example, is laborious and involves pounding cooked yams or cassava into a paste with a mortar.
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Their fried chicken, mac and cheese and candied yams are consistently spectacular.
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It was a journey full of hardships - including selling water and yams at the roadside as a six-year-old.
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The Ogbuagu feasted on traditional dishes such as goat meat pepper soup, nsala soup - made from catfish - pounded yam and palm wine.
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