Illustration of cacao
- cacao 2
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇ 
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
plural cacaos
1
or cacao bean
: a dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that is used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter : cocoa bean
… polyphenols also make cacao beans taste astringent and bitter.—
Patricia Gadsby
Patricia Gadsby2
or cacao tree
: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained
Chocolate starts as the seeds in the fruits of the cacao tree, a tropical plant that produces flowers and fruit not at the tips of branches but on the trunk.—Kenneth Chang
Kenneth ChangThe cacao tree is native to the tropical countries of South America, but now grows in other parts of the world, notably Africa, the West Indies, and Central America.—Joanna Morris
Joanna Morris
Examples of cacao in a Sentence
a farmer who grows cacao
Recent Examples on the Web
Brazil was formed from a series of land grants to powerful individuals who developed plantation systems producing sugar, cacao and coffee for export.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Researchers credit them with pollinating more than 80% of rainforest plants, including cacao, coffee, and avocados.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
The WhistlePig team seasoned barrels with their own version of pulque made from cacao and chili peppers, then filled them with aged rye to finish for a couple of weeks before bottling the whiskey as a cask-strength, single-barrel expression.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2025
Among the brand’s next launches are a bronzer serum with bursting beads of cacao for pigment, set to debut in 2026.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacao
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Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Researchers credit them with pollinating more than 80% of rainforest plants, including cacao, coffee, and avocados.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
The WhistlePig team seasoned barrels with their own version of pulque made from cacao and chili peppers, then filled them with aged rye to finish for a couple of weeks before bottling the whiskey as a cask-strength, single-barrel expression.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2025
Among the brand’s next launches are a bronzer serum with bursting beads of cacao for pigment, set to debut in 2026.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cacao
Cite this Entry
“Cacao.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cacao. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇
kə-ˈkā-ō
plural cacaos
1
: a South American tree that bears small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy yellow pods containing many seeds
2
: the dried fatty seeds of the cacao from which cocoa and chocolate are made
called also cacao bean
Medical Definition
cacao
noun
ca·cao
kə-ˈkau̇
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
kə-ˈkā-(ˌ)ō
plural cacaos
1
: the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a South American evergreen tree (Theobroma cacao of the family Malvaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter
called also cacao bean, cocoa bean
2
: a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods with many seeds that bear cacao
called also chocolate tree
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