taro

[tahr-oh, tair-oh, tar-oh] /ˈtɑr oʊ, ˈtɛər oʊ, ˈtær oʊ/
noun, plural taros.
1.
a stemless plant, Colocasia esculenta, of the arum family, cultivated in tropical regions, in the Pacific islands and elsewhere, for the edible tuber.
2.
the tuber itself.
Compare dasheen.
Origin
1770-80; < Polynesian
Examples from the web for taro
  • Villagers paddle outrigger canoes and grow taro and other traditional staples.
  • The state produces a wide array of commercial crops ranging from sugarcane to pineapples and taro.
  • In the main lobby, patrons were served taro, pumpkin and water-chestnut cakes.
  • Dinner includes beef and chicken entrees, tropical fruits, taro rolls and local vegetables.
  • taro root is a starchy vegetable that is commonly used in place of a potato.
  • taro root contains calcium oxalate, the agent responsible for the symptoms, but it is rendered harmless when properly prepared.
British Dictionary definitions for taro

taro

/ˈtɑːrəʊ/
noun (pl) -ros
1.
an aroid plant, Colocasia esculenta, cultivated in the tropics for its large edible rootstock
2.
the rootstock of this plant
Full name elephant's-ear, dasheen, eddo, Chinese eddo
Word Origin
C18: from Tahitian and Māori
Word Origin and History for taro
n.

tropical food plant, 1769, from Polynesian (Tahitian or Maori) taro.