Yam Definition
yăm
yams
noun
yams
The edible, starchy, tuberous root of any of several tropical climbing plants (genus Dioscorea) of the yam family, widely grown in the tropics for food.
Webster's New World
Any of these plants.
Webster's New World
Any of various other similar plants, as the barbasco.
Webster's New World
A moist, orange-colored variety of sweet potato.
Webster's New World
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- yam plant
adjective
Designating a family (Dioscoreaceae, order Liliales), of climbing, chiefly tropical monocotyledonous plants, including the barbasco.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Yam
Noun
Singular:
yam
Plural:
yamsOrigin of Yam
Portuguese inhame or obsolete Spanish igname, iñame both from Portuguese and English Creole nyam to eat of West African origin Wolof ñam food, to eat or Bambara ñambu manioc
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Portuguese inhame and Spanish ñame, possibly from the Fula nyami (“to eat"). The term was coined in 1657.
From Wiktionary
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