carob

noun

car·​ob ˈker-əb How to pronounce carob (audio)
ˈka-rəb
1
: a Mediterranean evergreen leguminous tree (Ceratonia siliqua) with racemose red flowers
2
: a pod of the carob tree or its sweet pulp having a flavor similar to that of chocolate

Examples of carob in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The culprit appeared to be tara flour, made from the seed pods of a thorny tree called Peruvian carob. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026 Thre treats are made with natural ingredients like peanut butter, banana and carob. — Jessica Moore, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025 But many brands mix stabilizers and thickeners, such as tapioca starch and carob gum, into their products for consistency. — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026 Gussied up with carob trees and Mediterranean flora, the rooftop here is something else, with a deep-green infinity pool (one of three on-site) and plenty of perches for golden-hour drinks. — Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for carob

Word History

Etymology

Middle French carobe, from Medieval Latin carrubium, from Arabic kharrūba

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carob was in 1548

Rhymes for carob

See All Rhymes for carob

Browse Nearby Words

caroa
carob
caroba
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carob. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

carob

noun
car·​ob ˈkar-əb How to pronounce carob (audio)
: the sweet pod of a Mediterranean evergreen tree of the legume family that can be prepared to resemble chocolate and is used in various foods

Medical Definition

carob

noun
car·​ob ˈkar-əb How to pronounce carob (audio)
1
: a Mediterranean evergreen leguminous tree (Ceratonia siliqua) with racemose red flowers
2
: a carob pod
also : its sweet pulp

More from Merriam-Webster on carob

Nglish: Translation of carob for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carob

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